coming down.

levi peterson: single | twenty one | learning. "I too am good at hunger; it never deserts me."

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

charlie snorted, waving the bartender over to order another round of drinks because god, she needed it. “oh please, you’re actin’ like sleeping with you is gonna be a chore.” she finished off the last of her vodka redbull and raised an eyebrow at him. it shouldn’t be weird - there weren’t gonna be any strings attached “so, what’s it gonna be? may i be your first fuck?”

This could not be happening. Levi merely blinked in surprise at Charlie. She wanted to be the one to take his virginity? Levi could feel the heat on his cheeks, tinging his skin a light pink as the thought of her, naked, briefly, entered his head, and his grip on the counter tightened slightly. “...you want to...take my virginity.” It wasn’t so much a question as a statement...and while he knew there should have been some more consideration taken into this, the truth of the matter was that Charlie was gorgeous and experienced and he’d be an idiot not to want to sleep with her, and if she was offering...wasn’t it better to sleep with someone who he was both comfortable with and knew what they were doing? Levi surely didn’t, so Charlie would be able to show him...and besides, people hooked up all the time. It was what normal people did, and Levi was trying his damn best to be as normal as possible. He was just a little late to the game. Slowly, he nodded his head, wondering what in the world he was getting himself into. “O-okay.”

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

“i’m serious. there’s no way i can bag a guy like you. the universe wouldn’t allow it.” the brunette took a long drink from her glass, glancing around the club like he was doing, trying to see if she could help him spot someone. charlie sighed and licked her lips, thinking her words over carefully (shocker) before speaking. “yeah, you can. do it with me.” she looked over at him with a shrug. “fuck me if you’re too nervous to fuck a stranger. i’ll help get you warmed up.”

Levi just shook his head, not even knowing what to say to that. Charlie was amazing. His favorite person since he’d arrived here in the first place. She deserved better than Levi, and he hoped that she would find it. He was just about to suggest they order another round when he noticed her mulling over something. Eyebrows furrowed, he went to ask her what was wrong, but when she spoke, his mouth promptly shut. What was she talking about? She couldn’t be serious. She would...she’d sleep with him? “Charlie...I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

charlie nodded. “of course i do. you’re way outta my league, kid.” she was only being honest. everything that levi was - charlie wasn’t. it was part of the reason why she was so fascinated with him. he was just so entirely different from her. “all you gotta do is walk up to somebody and say ‘i’ll treat you right’ and they’re yours.”

“I’m out of your league?” She was joking, right? Charlie was out of Levi’s league. “Now I know you’re just messing with me, Charlie.” Taking a look around the bar, taking in all the people, the possibilities...Levi’s heart jumped into his throat, nerves getting the better of him. “I don’t think I can do this.”

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

charlie tilted her head a bit, watching him intently. she knew he was shy, but she didn’t know he was that shy. but, to be fair, they were vastly different people. where levi was soft and sweet, charlie was hard and bitter. their experiences and paths were divergent, so she couldn’t expect him to be as outgoing and straightforward as she was. “you text them.” charlie stated, taking a drink from her cup. “ask them to hang out. try to get your dick wet. non è così difficile. it’s not that hard, i promise.” charlie translated out to him with a shrug. “you’re attractive and sweet, levi. use that.”

Get his dick wet? Levi was glad he hadn’t been having a drink then, or else he was sure he would have choked. She said it like it was so easy--like he should already know these things. Levi supposed that maybe he should have--any other twenty one year old would--and how difficult this was for him made him feel a sense of embarrassment. He appreciated that Charlie found him to be attractive and sweet, but he had no idea how to use that. “...you really think so?”

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

“yeah, maybe.” charlie said offhandedly, already keeping her eyes peeled for someone cute for him to talk to. the brunette already knew he was bisexual - it was something they’d talked about when they first met. or, more like charlie weasled out of him because she had a feeling. “what’s your type? leggy? busty? nice ass regardless of gender?” she asked, picking up the drink and taking a few sips from it. charlie almost felt bad for the kid, not because he was so innocent, but because he had her to deal with. she could be a little much, yet she always meant well. “i refuse to let you leave tonight empty handed, so work with me.” 

What was his type? Levi truly didn’t know. Truthfully, he thought he just liked people in general. Sure, attractive people always seemed to catch his eye, but he found things attractive about people that other’s weren’t so fast to look at. Instead of...boobs or butts or...legs?, his attention went to their smile first. Their eyes. Even the sound of their laugh. It was Gabriel’s laugh that had caught his attention first, he remembered. The rest had just quickly followed. “I, um...maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” To pacify himself, he took a quick chug of his drink, nose still managing to scrunch. “Even if I did get someone’s number...it’s not like I’d know what to do with it. With...” them.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

safiyyahhq:

“ look,” the taut girl began to speak before stopping herself in order to collect her train of thought. “ i really fucking need you to not tell anyone i’m here. i’d rather just eat, drink, and have one night to myself without sharing it with some cheap trick of a photographer.” her hues practically rolled into the next century as she begged the person next to her to not sell a story. maybe it was her extreme paranoia, or the fact that she was a bit full of herself, but safiyyah couldn’t help but grovel.

...Levi just wanted a drink himself. He still hadn’t developed a taste for alcohol, but he was determined to find one drink he actually did enjoy, and so far, had not had any luck. Swirling rather than drinking his Rum and Coke, he’d barely glanced the woman’s way before she was talking to him, an act that took Levi by surprise. Eyes widening, he held up his drink in a surrendering motion, a shy smile gracing his lips. “Your secret’s safe with me.” He promised.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

crchers:

“       i wouldn’t call it a hit and run, per se,” he’s clarifying, the slosh of amber liquid nearly breaching the rim of his glass as he brings it to his lips, choking back a grimace as it sears its way down his throat. “it was more like a scrape and vanish sort of thing. it’s fine, they’ll never figure it out      there’s more than one black car in this city, surely they can’t pin me down. even if they did, it’s not like i could pay for a porsche paint job. believe it or not, personal training doesn’t pay a whole lot.” there’s a beat followed by the barest hint of a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “does make a deposit in the spank bank every now and again, though. ”

Levi wasn’t sure he understood. The first part, definitely--Archer had accidentally scraped the side of someone’s car and took off--which was more than enough to cause the frown on his lips, but it was the second part of the statement that left him a little confused. “...spank bank?” 

[thelevipeterson-blog]

prvdvnce:

        ‘ for me? probably another six more shots. you’ve got a newbie liver, though, so i’d say it would probably be wise to see how you feel after the second round, ’ pru chuckles, a twinge of pity accompanying the words. after all, levi strikes her as a good kid, and she doesn’t really have any desire to lure him into any sort of night that’ll have the poor guy heaving into a toilet. ‘ you’ve really never had a shot before? not even cheap liquor in high school? bad beer in college?  ’

Second round? Levi raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t known it was that easy. She had a point, though. His liver was...a newbie, whatever that meant. “I guess I’ll get to ordering that, then.” The bartender was busy, for the moment, which left him with time to continue the conversation with Prudence. He shook his head at her questioning. “Never. No cheap liquor, no bad beer.” Though, they didn’t exactly sound appealing.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

“don’t be intimidated - that’s not always true.” charlie hurriedly added, noticing the brow raise at her statement. “we can do baby steps.” she got the bartender’s attention, ordering the two of them vodka redbulls. it was an easy enough drink, and if it was made right, he’d feel the buzz after he finished one. “so d’ya have anything else you wanna do besides get drunk? tryna get lucky by the end of the night? maybe get blown in the back of someone’s car?” her brow raised as she looked over at the younger man, smirk on her lips. “or, y’know, maybe ending up with someone’s number would be…safer.”

Whether he should be or not, Levi was intimidated. Charlie clearly knew what she was doing, while he, on the hand, did not. That’s why she was there, though. Who better to get him drunk for the first time than someone who knew all about it? There’s no one he’d rather have help him the next morning with what was bound to be a killer hangover...if this was done right. “Thank you.” He nodded, glad she wasn’t going to make him chug, like...an entire bottle of something. Vodka redbulls sounded a good way to start--even if both of those drinks were not ones he’d even had separately. He nearly choked at Charlie’s question. Blown in the back of someone’s car? “I, um...” He was a virgin, his one and only sexual experience cut short by his father, and didn’t know if he was ready to jump into something like that so fast. “I think maybe you’re right. About just...getting someone’s number.”

[thelevipeterson-blog]

kayleighclarkeisms:

“Three whole friends. Take it in.” A silly grin spread across her lips. Honestly, she was incredibly lucky to have Jules and Bianca. They were really the best friends that she could possibly ask for. She was suddenly acutely aware of everything around her- from the slight itch at the back of her neck from where her golden blonde hair fell to the condensation that had begun to form on her glass. The heat that had crept to her cheeks did not seem in danger of going anywhere at his startled response. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be weird. It’s just- you seem very… memorable,” she finished lamely. A breath of relief stole from her lips as their conversation wandered back into more familiar territory. “I do! I’ve been painting since I was a little kid. It’s kind of one of my favorite things to do.” She watched as he seemed to slip into another, sadder world. No sound escaped her lips as she let him think. She knew all too well that sometimes it was important. When he was drawn from his reverie, it was her turn to be sent back into the past. “It was alright,” she shrugged. “Lots of eyes. Everyone knew everyone, you know? But it definitely could have been worse.” She shook her head as if to rid herself of the shadow of her father before leaning over the bar to order another gin and tonic. “So what brings you to our sunny town?”

Levi knew that Kayleigh was joking, but the prospect of having three whole friends really was something he took a minute to take in. To think that he’d gone from a lonely life back home for twenty one years to a life already so different in a mere month was a lot to wrap his mind around. It wasn’t that part of him wasn’t upset over his father’s reaction towards his son’s apparent bisexuality, but that another was realizing how messed up that concept even was. His father was willing to turn his back on his son because some God told him to? Maybe that wasn’t a God Levi wanted to blindly follow...he’d yet to find a church in Norley to try and immerse himself into, and honestly wasn’t sure if he would. It was time to start a new chapter in his life--this time, without God’s guidance. Kayleigh’s flustered reaction and his awareness of his own was what finally snapped Levi out of his head and back into reality--the reality that placed him next to a beautiful girl who happened to think he was quite memorable himself. Blushing, Levi’s smile remained. “I don’t think it’s weird. You’re...I think you’d be memorable, to.” As in, he wasn’t going to forget that smile, ever. She was beautiful. “That’s really cool. I don’t mean to brag...but my stick figures? Legendary.” For being awful. He just hoped she wouldn’t ask for proof. That would be embarrassing. Levi listened to her explanation of the town, both relating and not relating to it’s description. “That doesn’t sound too different from back home.” He informed. “But different enough that I though it’d be a good place to settle...it wasn’t too far from home, and my mom helped me find it, after my dad...threw me out.” He frowned a little at the memory.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

kayleighclarkeisms:

Watching Levi was interesting, because he seemed to wear all of his emotions on his face. Having grown up surrounded by people trying to get ahead, she sometimes found herself surprised by the concept of openness. She wondered if that was how others felt when talking to her. “Me too. There, now you’ve got one more friend. Plus, bein my friend means you’ve pretty much got an automatic in with my brother and my best friend. So that’s three friends.” She chuckled. “Well then, you’re already more interesting than a lot of guys that I know.” She couldn’t state how sick she got of the men that she knew trying to show off their masculinity to the point of absurdity. He ordered a mojito and a pleased smile spread across her lips. She was enjoying his company, so far. A slight flush of pink spread across her cheeks. “Yeah,” she said, as though it were fairly obvious. “For starters, you’ve got really unique hair. And your cheekbones are just- ridiculous. Just, from an artistic standpoint, you’re somebody that I’d look at and want to paint.” She hoped that didn’t seem weird. “What was Newport Beach like?”

“Three friends?” Levi laughed. “That’s a lot more friends than I’m used to.” But it was comforting, somehow. If they were anything like Kayleigh was, Levi would be happy to have add them to his slowly building friend group. He grinned both at the thought and the prospect of being more interesting than the guys that she already knew. Not that he necessarily believed that--Levi didn’t think he was too interesting--but hearing that Kayleigh thought he was definitely made him happy. He liked impressing others, even with how often he didn’t. Maybe that’s why it meant so much to him, the rare moments where someone actually expressed more than just vague interest. Definitely more than vague interest. Was that a blush? Levi doesn’t know if he’d ever made a girl blush before, and one of his own flushed his cheeks as he pondered this. Hearing her begin to talk about his hair and cheekbones and painting him didn’t help. He nearly choked on the sip of his mojito (which was, like she’d said, less bitter), and a bewildered smile took over his lips. “T-thank you.” He breathed, a little speechless. “You’re an artist?” Levi certainly wasn’t. Stick figures was as far as his artistic ability went. Shrugging his shoulders, he took another sip of his drink before answering. “It’s home, you know? The actual beach was amazing, and the pier had the best ice cream shop. There were always people around--new people, all the time.” That was how he’d met him, after all, and the memory of it brought a slight frown to his lips. Not angry...but sad. Shaking his head, Levi turned to look at Kayleigh again. “What was it like growing up here?”

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

charlie tried to hide the smile tugging at her lips as levi tried to downplay the burn from the alcohol. it was gonna take him some getting used to - it wouldn’t happen overnight. “just regular drunk, i suppose. leaning towards shitfaced would involve tequila. and tequila makes your clothes come off, just a fair warning.”

Levi raised an eyebrow at that. He’d never heard that before...and he didn’t know about Charlie, but he definitely didn’t think that he particularly wanted his clothes to come off. Maybe just regular drunk was good enough. “Baby steps?” He offered weakly, hoping she doesn’t see him as too lame. God only knows how he felt it.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

charlie smiled at his words. i trust you. it meant a lot to her, considering that the two hadn’t known each other very long. she was glad that he felt that way about her - not many people did. with a wink, charlie took her own shot, setting the small glass down on the counter with a laugh. “on a scale of sober to shitfaced, where d’ya wanna be tonight? be honest.”

That was a good question. Levi pondered it as he tried not to physically react to the burning sensation in his throat, though he was sure that he failed. “...what’s, like, the middle option? Leaning towards...shitfaced?” He wasn’t used to cursing. It felt odd on his tongue.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

kayleighclarkeisms:

Kay couldn’t blame him for starting with shots. It was what people always did in movies, after all. If he hadn’t had much drinking experience, he might have just assumed it was the normal progression of drinking. His words brought a nod of understanding. As a fairly shy person, she could understand all too well how difficult it must be to make friends in an entirely new place. “How ‘bout one more?” There was a chipper smile on her face. “You can never have too many friends, I think.” She looked down at her glass absently, watching the tonic bubbles rising to the surface like balloons in the sky. “This might not be for you. Gin and tonic. It’s kind of bitter. If you were looking for something a bit easier to drink, I’d recommend… maybe a vodka cranberry, or a mojito. I know a lot of people call them girly, but masculinity is a social construct and they taste good. No judgement on my part if you want one.” Her small fingers were easily dwarfed by his own, but she shook his hand with the confidence that could only be gained by having a CEO for a father. “I feel like I would have noticed you before,” she shrugged. “Welcome to Norley. Oh gosh, I’ve been here my whole life. Where’re you from?”

At first, he thought that she meant another drink, but when she added the part about never having too many friends, Levi understood the real meaning. That brought a chipper smile of his own to his lips, head nodding to show that he agreed. “...yeah, I’d like that.” He really would. Kayleigh looked like she’d be a good friend, and she was right. A person could never have too many, and right now, Levi had about one. Two was just as good of a number. Glancing at her drink himself, he listened to Kayleigh’s opinion, and found himself laughing. Masculinity is a social construct. He’d never heard that before, but quickly found himself agreeing. “Luckily enough, I’m secure in my socially constructed masculinity enough to take your word for it.” To prove his point, the next time the bartender made their way over to him, he ordered the latter option (a mojito) and turned back to Kayleigh without batting an eye. “You think so?” Levi was curious as to why. He didn’t think there was anything that stood out about him. “Thank you, though. I was born and raised in Newport Beach.”

[thelevipeterson-blog]

rochellc:

when he began talking about his father was when she realized his situation was nothing to be gossiped about. she felt sorry for him, understanding what it was like to have a father who didn’t have his kid’s best interest at heart. “damn..” she mumbled, counting the cash a customer had given her before putting it into the register. “that sounds super shitty, i’m..” she paused, surprised at herself that she was actually being decent to someone who wasn’t in her immediate circle. “- i’m sorry, but at least you’re not around him anymore. nobody should be around such negative energy.” she believed that wholeheartedly, despite how it could be seen as a contradiction from those who knew her - negativity followed her like a storm cloud on occasion. “i’m rochelle, by the way. the regulars call me ro.”

He hadn’t told her to gain her sympathy. She had asked, and Levi truly hadn’t mind answering. Still, hearing her apologize for his father’s behavior, even if she had nothing to do with it, brought a genuine smile to his lips. For her to try and comfort a complete stranger was a kindness Levi hadn’t expected, but appreciated all the same. “Thank you. You’re definitely right. I’m using it as a learning experience.” Hence, the shot he’d just downed. “I’m Levi. It’s nice to meet you.” It really was.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

chxrliematt:

“of course we’re really doing this. vivere mentre sei giovane, alright? live while you’re young.” the brunette translated, picking up the other shot glass. “i’m not gonna let anything bad happen to you - you’ll be fine.” charlie knew that if she got him super drunk, she’d have to end up babysitting. usually, she hated having to be responsible for someone else, but she was fine with it knowing that this would be his first time getting drunk. in fact, she was excited to see what the kid would be like completely intoxicated. “toast to your twenty-first. hopefully you don’t throw up.”

“Live while you’re young.” How could he argue with that? Levi felt like he hadn’t been living until now. Funny how empowering a shot glass full of whatever could feel...with a sigh, but a grin, Levi reached forward for the next shot glass and clinked it against Charlie’s. “Okay, okay, I trust you.” The funny thing was, he did. They hadn’t known each other very long at all, but Levi trusted her--at least enough to be the one he got drunk with for the time time ever. “Here’s to hoping.” He laughed, before knocking the shot back.

[thelevipeterson-blog]

kayleighclarkeisms:

There was something about the smile that the boy wore- a kind of pleasant vulnerability that immediately endeared the blonde to him. “Neither am I,” she confided. “I tend to only drink alcohol that comes in regular sized glasses.” She lifted her own drink in indication, before bringing it back to her upturned lips. “Congrats on your recent coming of age,” a soft smile danced across her face. “I’m in the same boat. I just happen to have a few friends that thought I should celebrate my adulthood with shots.” She grimaced. “Not my favorite idea, in retrospect.” The memory of that night was still unbearably hazy, but nothing so unpleasant as the next morning had been. “Next time around, I’d recommend you order something a bit more… diluted. They generally taste better.” Another gentle peal of laughter escaped her and she leaned forward, offering him an outstretched hand. “The pleasure’s mine, Levi. Are you new around here?”

Levi’s eyes fell to Kayleigh’s glass, and nodded his head in understanding. “...maybe I’ll have to try that, then.” He laughed. That probably would’ve been the safer route to go. Shots just seemed like a normal thing to be ordering. He didn’t exactly know what he was doing. Hell, this was Levi’s first time ever in a bar. Most people wouldn’t even think anything of it, but to him, it was a whole new experience. He knew how dumb that sounded, but it was true. “I wish I had that excuse...I don’t really have friends here yet.” Charlie, mostly, but she was about it--not that he minded. She was great company, and he’d never been that kid with a million friends, anyways. He’d never been that kid with friends. Yet another thing he was hoping to change here. “I think you’re right. What’re you drinking?” He asked. When Kayleigh leaned forward, so did Levi, and he placed his larger hand in hers to shake. “Is it that obvious? I’ve only been here about a month.” He explained. “What about you?”