rewind.

“I’m cool with sleeping in the guest room as long as I get to take her with me.” Scott squeezed the dog in his arms without taking his eyes off Joelle. Spending the holidays with her family was going better than he thought it would considering he still had no idea what to call what they were doing with each other. Oddly enough he felt like he almost fit in with the rest of them after his initial nerves had settled throughout the day. “We’ve only been here a day and you’ve already been replaced. Sucks for you.”

“I’m not even mad about it. I mean look at her-” She says in a slight baby voice and lowered herself to kiss Biscuit on her nose. “But I know you’ll come crawling back when she can’t give you what you want later. So again, not even mad about it.” She smirked. Joelle didn’t just bring anyone around her family and they knew that. However, with such a big step of having him over, there was no pressure. She thought it was would be awkward or hard for everyone to get comfortable but she was happy to see that her family instantly welcomed him and even more happy that Scott wasn’t anxious and felt at ease being around new people. “Guess room? Oh, you’re really trying to win my family over, huh?”

#hoes chat: 001

samsvale·:

Sam had no idea why he’d gone out of his way to hang out with Tatum now that his reason for doing so had completely disappeared but for some reason he still found himself sitting on his usual bar stool as he watched her work. “Free for now.” He spread his hands, leaning forward to take a small sip off the top of the milkshake. “I figure it’s only a matter of time before you break something again so I’m not gonna get used to it. Besides, if I’m not here to stare at you you might start to feel neglected and I can’t have that.”

Tatum playfully narrowed her eyes at him, “Well let’s knock on wood. I know you have better things and people to do.” She teased as she knocked on the island. “Oh? He cares about me now?” Tatum raised a brow before she looked down at the counter not wanting him to see her blush. “If that’s the case I should be charging you, not giving your free food.”

#chat: 008

“You do remember I got my car back a few days ago, right?” Tatum laughed softly and slid the extra milkshake over to him. They were on good terms for a while now, but she didn’t expect him to still show up a few minutes before her shift ended. “You’re finally free from driving me places.”

#chat: 008

samsvale:

“Given his track record, probably not. Doesn’t mean you can’t be though.” Sam didn’t pretend to know anything about how their relationship had been in the past but what he’d seen over the course of a few months made it clear Nick was far from reliable. He’d trusted his roommate with picking up his girlfriend after practice because he was too ‘busy’ to do it himself. He had no idea why she continued to put up with it but it wasn’t something he planned on asking either. Not when he was trying to lighten the mood. “I’ll give you a heads up if I see any coming your way.” He winked at her teasingly before leaning against the wall next to her, thankful he had something to help him balance out. Seeing her smirk was more than enough to cause his own grin to spread but he resisted the urge to tell her he could dream. That was bound to be the closest he got to seeing her naked again and he knew it. “I know. But knowing no one else is doing it actually does make me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside.” He placed his hand over his heart. “Just means I’m still the last one on your mind.”

tatum shrugged it off. she didn’t want to waste any more time being mad at nick. she knew how it would all play out if she brought it up anyways. which is why she basically checked out a long time ago. but to hold up their ‘perfect high school sweetheart’ title, she kept up with the front. “or you know I could just avoid the possibility by avoiding you. I’ve noticed you’re just trouble.” her brows raised teasingly to match his behavior. tatum know how shameless sam was yet she was still caught off guard by some of the stuff he said. even growing flushed. “just because I’m the last one on your mind doesn’t mean it’s the same for me.” she shook her head, biting back the playful grin. “Or maybe it is. Guess you’ll never know though.” there definitely more flirtiness behind it than anything.

#chat: 007

samsvale:

His eyebrows shot up momentarily until he realized that for once her irritation wasn’t directed at him. He wasn’t the one that screwed up this time around, and as much as he wanted her to be happy he couldn’t help but become a bit smug whenever Mr. Perfect showed what an ass he could really be. It might not have been enough to make him look better in her eyes but Sam figured it was something. “What a pussy.” Once she looked his way he hesitated a second longer than he should have before holding his drink out for her. “You seem like you need it a little bit more than I do right now. And don’t worry, I brushed my teeth before I came so you don’t have to worry about where my mouth has been.” The way the corners of his mouth slowly began curving up as his eyes stayed locked on hers made it clear he was joking. Usually he didn’t tend to make himself or his life the punchline but she seemed like she could use some reason to smile. “It’s his loss anyways. Choosing his friends might have been a better idea but now there’s no way he stands a chance at helping you get out of that at the end of the night.” Without meaning to his eyes trailed over the length of her body and back up again. “Sucks for him but it’s great for me.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised or mad about it though.” tatum didn’t go out of her way to defend nick, but she didn’t put the blame on him either. she never did. it was one of her bad habits especially now. because she knew she was the real shitty person. “thanks.” she takes the beer with a soft smile. “I hope I don’t have some girl coming for me later about me taking her sloppy seconds just because I took your beer.” it seemed like the right time to stop pouting about nick and enjoy the company in front of her. she felt like she had to take advantage of the time. tatum noticed his traveling eyes and heat flushed her whole body. “how so? it’s not like you’ll be the one helping me out of this either.” she smirks before taking a sip of the chilled beer.

#chat: 007

samsvale:

On any other night the way Kelsey rolled her body against his would have been more than enough to hold Sam’s attention. His hands would have roamed over her body without caring who happened to look their way as she all but wrapped herself around him on the dance floor until they eventually slipped off to find a room. Or a car. Sometimes it even turned out to be the bushes behind the house that the party was being hosted at. But despite the pressure of her body and the feeling of warmth that radiated off her Sam still found his attention zeroing in on Tatum once he spotted her across the room and the stupid magnetic connection that only seemed to grow between them on his end had him finishing off the last of his drink before half mumbling some excuse to the girl who should have had him. Maybe at the end of the night she eventually would, but for now he was more interested in chatting up the one person he knew he was getting nowhere with. “Hey. I didn’t know Nick was here.” He grabbed another drink from the cooler next to her and easily cracked it open, hoping she might actually believe it was his first of the night despite the lack of space he’d unintentionally left between them to be heard over the music. “Don’t tell me you guys are wearing some lame couple’s costume or I might actually puke here.”

"we did.” if her tone didn’t make it clear she was annoyed, a hard eye roll followed. “pretty sure nick changed because his friends were giving him shit. nothing new.” she shrugged. tatum felt like she relived the same night over and over again. same parties and the same type of people. a group of people she didn’t fit in with anymore. and honestly, she didn’t want to try to fit into nick’s life anymore. it wasn’t what she wanted. but of course, she came because of her roommate. “if you puke it’s not my fault.” she pulled her attention away from the dj and finally met with his eyes. tatum and sam finding each other at crowded parties became more frequent these days. she blamed it on chance and wasn’t complaining about it though. a part of her looked forward to seeing him.

#chat: 007

bittercurses

dovecameron: who’s that? why are they in my office ?

samsvale:

If you ever forget I’ll remind you. [He prided himself on being discreet. He could want something more than anything else in the world and still manage to look disinterested when other people were watching. In his experience pretending not to want something always made it easier to get. Or at least less embarrassing if he didn’t. The same could be said for his attitude towards Tatum for the most part. Sure there were times he slipped and she caught him looking but around their friends nothing had changed despite his growing desire to have her attention.] Oh so you’re telling her everything now, huh? Because I can think of something she might care about a little more. Hey, my services aren’t cheap. I’m a hot commodity around here, Price. This is the first night I’ve had time to myself in weeks and look where I am. [He motioned towards the field around them though his smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth made it clear he was only teasing. Oddly enough there was nowhere else he wanted to be at the moment.] What does that even mean? A guy like me? [His eyebrows furrowed slightly once his eyes locked on hers. They were too close. He knew it without her having to say anything but he still hesitated before he straightened up again. After that even looking at her seemed harder.] It’s, uh, Pegasus. I used to love Hercules when I was little so… yeah.

[She made a thin lipped smile at him, but the glare she was giving him showed that she wasn’t exactly happy with his semi low blow. But just like she was accepting the fact that they hooked up, she didn’t take his threats as serious anymore. ] You sure know how to make a girl feel special. Too bad you didn’t bring your guitar because if this were a date, I’d definitely say this is in the top three. [She says coyly with a soft smile.] A guy like you... you know, the arrogant and opinionated guy in a band type. [She said, laughing awkwardly when the realization that labeling him wasn’t as fun or a good comeback anymore. When he immediately straightened up again, she quickly straighten up herself too. They had a moment, but she was surprised --- maybe a little disappointed that he didn’t make a move.] Hold up... Are we talking Disney Hercules? Because that was and will always be my favorite! Please tell me you dressed up as him for Halloween or something because I want pictures.

Well you’re not just there when you’re with me. I actually like hanging out with you on the off chance that you’re not bitching at me. If Nick can’t take time to appreciate what’s right in front of him he must be fucking blind or stupid. If you were my girl I would be all over you 8 out of 10 times at some point in the night and the other 2 I would be passed out in the living room with everyone else. [Sam sighed softly as he turned his attention away from her. He knew there was no right answer. She would either think he was a douchebag or that he loved a girl who he was only interested in for fun.] Uh, no. But don’t tell her that. She likes to think a handful of them have something to do with her and letting her believe that is easier than explaining that it wasn’t about anyone. [He shrugged again before slipping behind her to get a better look at everything she was pointing out.] Then I guess I’m not as conceited as you thought. [He had a good idea of what she thought of him but it didn’t actually bother Sam considering he hadn’t made any effort to get her to think anything else.] It’s never too late to learn. You just have to be patient and find the perfect way to lure me out here every night. The best way to go at it is probably something involving flattery or music choice. [His tone was teasing as he lowered his chin to rest on her shoulder to see the world from as close to her point of view as he could get.] That’s the Gemini. And right over there is the big dipper.

8 out of 10? I'll remember that.[Tatum smiled at his kind response, even if she knew he was only saying something to get her to shut up about Nick. But the thought still counted and she wasn’t going to forget it. She suddenly felt relieved that he didn’t write anything about it. She was surprised too since the two were always all over each other but she realized their relationship that deep. Again, some weird relief.] But it’s girl code, I have to tell her everything to prevent her from looking like an idiot. You should know secrets don’t exist in girl world. [She said, smirking. A small indication she was messing with him. Plus telling Kelsey over something so little would just cause drama that none of them needed.] I guess you’re not. And now I’ll knock the conceited fire backs down a bit. Flattery? you’re pushing it, Sam. [Giggling, she bumped her arm against his before she turned to look back at the stars, trying to ignore the fact that his chin was rested on her shoulder. If she didn’t act on it, then he would eventually get the clue he wasn’t going to get a reaction out of her but at the same time the small bit of affection was nice so she didn’t want him to move anyways.] Okay, big dipper. I’m going to remember this so I’m not a total lost cause. I feel like every on the planet knows that one so I’m just like everyone now. --- So what’s your favorite? a guy like you has to have a favorite. [Smiling, she then turned her cheek just slightly, eyeing him for a moment --- being one of those people that needed to make eye contact when speaking to someone --- before she thought that even looking at him while they were this close was a bad idea.]

Only in my nightmares. Come on, you fit in fine with us at the house. You’re a little anal sometimes but it doesn’t help that he focuses on his friends more than you, so you’re kind of just… there. Maybe he’s just not fantastic at multitasking. [Sam had no idea why he was trying to make excuses for Nick but it seemed like the right thing to do. He didn’t particularly like the guy but they were almost friends so it seemed like the right thing to do.] Not enough to write a song about, no. [She’d been motivation behind a few of the lyrics bouncing around in his mind but she didn’t need to know that.] Then be thankful that you have a man as talented as me in your life. I used to get really fucked up during my first year of high school and somehow or another I always ended up outside staring at the sky so eventually one day I decided to try and figure out what I was looking at. Hello astronomy. [He shrugged and squinted one of his eyes shut, hoping she would let the subject drop at that as he reached down to take her hand to begin tracing out the constellations for her.] You see those two right there? That’s Orion’s shoulders. [As he spoke he shifted their hands to point out the key features for her.] Everyone always says Ursa Major is the easiest one to find but this was the first one I figured out. Then I went for the Leo because I’m vain like that.

I’m kind of just there [She laughed bitterly. Tatum was aware she was basically nonexistent in the circle but it sounded a lot sadder hearing and saying it out loud. She wasn’t necessarily sad about the fact, she was more upset that she became that girl she swore she wouldn’t become.] Please, Nick invented multitasking. No need to lie to spare my feelings. I promise I’m not getting that emotional here. [She reassured him by looking straight at him, tear free and all.] Have you written any songs about Kelsey? [She regretfully asked. Tatum was almost a hundred percent positive he’d written songs about in that moment she wanted to know if she was right. And in a way she wanted to know how serious the two were.] Who would’ve thought being drunk would actually motivate you to study [She teased him. When he took initiative to help trace the constellations with her, she held back a smile seeing him somewhat excited to show her everything.] I’m surprised Leo wasn’t the first one you figured out. Okay Ursa Major? Is it bad that I only knew about the Little and Big Dipper. I feel like those are the “easy” ones to spot out. Well except for me because I’m blind. [She says, laughing before she pointed at a random group of stars that formed a square. Or at least she thought it would be something.] Alright, what's that one?

[Leave it to Tatum to have more faith than she probably should have that he was a decent person. Sam was sure at some point or another he would end up letting her down. It almost always happened with people who believed he was better than he actually was, but he didn’t want to correct her yet.] I’m trying. Hey, I said it was good. I’m not about to hand over an award or anything. You’re not the only one who has a little trouble with the details.

I never said it had to. I don’t know about you but I don’t think it’s right when you drop off the face of the Earth just because you have someone who’s willing to blow you most nights of the week. Whatever happened to bro’s before hoes? I can’t believe you really just brought in the ‘you are what you eat’ line. [Sam shook his head though it was hard to hold back his smile. The words sounded similar to something one of the guys would say which was exactly why he’d never expected to hear them coming from her.] Did you mean for that to sound depressing or? Jesus, Price. There’s nothing wrong with being by yourself. If you’re not getting whatever emotion you need out of it and you’re doing it for someone else then it’s time to move on and find someone who can give you what you’re looking for. Wasting your time pretending to be into something seems way too boring. [His eyes narrowed just slightly as he watched her, tempted to make a move just to see what kind of reaction he would get this time around. Besides, he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about kissing her at one point or another throughout the night. The only thing stopping him was that he knew she didn’t want him to. It was exactly why his gaze flickered towards her lips before he focused on her eyes again.] Only if you give me something to write about. [After nearly a minute he forced himself t move, hopping out of the car and walking towards the middle of the field where he sat on the ground with his elbows resting in the grass, his face turned towards the sky.] You know Mayans called astronomers men who studied heaven? They thought that if you looked long enough you could see the gods communicating through celestial events and shit like that, or that eventually based off of constellations and everything you could unlock the key to seeing the future.

Bro’s over hoes? are you still in high school? [She retorted with yet another humorless laugh.] I get that couples should balance friends and their relationship. Sometimes it’s annoying, I know. But at the same time when you’re with someone you really like, you just want to see and hangout with that one person. It guess it’s done subconsciously? It’s always like that during the cutesy stage - plus sometimes couples hanging out with one another’s group just doesn’t work. Take me and Nick for example. [She pointed out, laughing. She felt bad shedding this type of light on her relationship but at the same time she wanted to drop hints of where she was at lately. Even Nick and his friends commented her isolation when they were all together. And the more she heard it she didn’t care to make effort. It also didn’t help that Sam pointed out what she was struggling with since entering college. She was getting less from her relationship more than ever and it was slowly, but surely becoming “boring” as Sam called it.] What? being out with me right now isn’t enough? [She focused on his eyes while clenching onto the door handle. She grew anxious wondering what he was thinking at the second. Even though she knew one side of him there was that other side that she wanted to know. And there was definitely something in the air between them, it seemed like that since they met and truthfully it was getting harder and harder to ignore it.] I don’t know about wanting to see the future but catching a glimpse of the gods communicating would be cool. But I have yet to find all the constellations, I usually get too caught up playing connect the dots. Surprise, I’m not a total know-it-all.

#i #chat: 006

[Sam’s eyebrows shot up at her response but he kept his mouth shut. No one had ever said it so bluntly before but he’d heard similar things from the few people who were actually so close to him that they picked up on the differences in her personality around different people. He’d just never expected Tatum of all people would be someone who got on that level.] Maybe a little bit. [He shrugged his shoulders, glancing away from her to try and brush the subject off as if it were nothing. Honestly, he’d found himself watching her more than Kelsey lately in his quest to figure her out so he could kill off whatever interesting factor kept drawing him back in.] You can’t know that. [Without thinking he shook his head. The last thing he intended on doing was starting an argument but he felt so strongly on the issue that he’d spoken before actually processing anything. The only time he’d ever fully been himself around her was when they were alone and he wasn’t trying to put on a show for anyone, and given how much she pushed that she didn’t remember he could only assume she was telling the truth.] I would offer to remind you but this is actually going really well for once so I won’t fuck it up. If I didn’t enjoy it I would bring it up. For being so uptight all the time I was impressed.

Oh I never said it was boring. You can be kind and respectful to someone without turning into a total pussy in the process. If you’re bored during sex I think that means you’re doing something wrong. [He couldn’t imagine things not being interesting or exciting when he was with someone else. Then again, whenever things started to go downhill or head in that direction he usually found some reason or another to leave- not that he really needed one. It was practically branded on his forehead that he wasn’t the monogamous type. Sam tilted his head to the side, leaning it back against the window so he could relax while fully facing her.] If this is the part where you tell me you’re infatuated with me I’m all ears. [If he didn’t know any better he could almost guess that she was talking about the two of them in some sense but his tone was more teasing than anything. Were they infatuated with each other? No. But his growing interest in her despite everything standing in the way was a jump he could make.] That sounds a little too Bieber for me, babe, but I’ll keep it in mind if I’m ever hit with that feeling. You can stop here.

[Without a word, a soft smug smile tugged at her lips. She wasn’t going to lie to herself and say she wasn’t flattered, maybe even liked the the fact that he looked at her when she wasn’t paying attention.] I know it, but I’m not going to be the one to brainwash you to believe it. You’ll see it, eventually. [She mused. It wasn’t like Tatum was trying to tell him he was suppose to be a certain way because he was the only person who knew himself better than anyone. It was his life and his choice of living, but that didn’t mean she got vibes from him that he was definitely battling who he should be and who he wanted to be.] Wow I guess you really do want to have a good time with me. Well you know what they say, it’s always the uptight ones that truly impress.

Why does being in love suddenly make a guy a pussy though? I mean yeah you are what you eat, but just because he’s not being selfish and actually caring about someone else, he’s totally lost all masculinity? It’s bullshit to me. [She said, letting out a humorless laugh.] I guess once you hit that mark it’s just something you do because it with someone you’re comfortable with. It’s not emotional anymore. [Although she spoke nonchalantly, she tightened her grip on the steering wheel. She wasn’t exactly planning for a conversation about this with Sam, but it was coming out like word vomit.] Depends. You going to write a song about me? [She eyed the blonde with a smirk, as she let the car come to a complete stop and finally put the car in park.]