solo.

"What, did you go to a special bitch academy or something?" mariela alves. twenty-four. ballerina.

[d--cruz]

"I may have that covered," he told her, opening his jacket to find a floral strawberry waiting in the inside of his jacket. He took it out and handed it to her, closing his jacket so she could pin it on him. He stepped forward, reaching out to brush some hair out of her face as she did. Since they had decided to really be together, Nando had been focused on making sure she always knew how much she meant to him. "Now we just need to stop by the photo booth," he told her softly. When she finished pinning the flower to his suit, he leaned in to kiss her, his hands sliding around her waist to pull her closer. "You ready to have some fun? That's your only job tonight. Be present and have fun."

[themarielaalves]

''I should have known." Blue said, watching as he pulled out a small arrangement of flowers. "Has anyone ever told you how like dangerously cute, you happen to be?" She asked Hernando as she pinned the arrangement to the lapel of his jacket. "I don't think Rosewood has ever seen someone to the levels of this cute before." She teased, as he pulled her closer to him. Her arms draped around his neck as his lips met hers. Honestly, they hadn't even made into the festival yet and already, she was having the best time. "Oh, I'm already having fun." She told him, nodding against his forehead. "You've got it. What's our next order of business?

[d--cruz]

"There she is, my Strawberry Princess. Sorry I'm late." Hernando had been pacing in the parking lot, waiting for the corsage he had been telling himself not to forget for days but in his nervousness had forgotten. He had power walked over to where he had seen Blue last. "But I'm here and I come with gifts." He held up the Strawberry Corsage and laughed. "I know it's cheesy but you know I love a theme." @blairblr

[themarielaalves]

"Here I am," Blue found her cheeks growing warm at his greeting. Hernando had this innate ability to make her blush, something she wasn't sure any other guy had managed to do to date. He was just so charming, a trait that hadn't once falter despite their years together at that point. "It's just a little cheesy. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.'' She affirmed him, holding her wrist out towards him to deck with said corsage. When Hernando has suggested they really buy into the theme and go full on into— she had groaned at the thought of having to get in the dress and heels just for a summer carnival but standing there opposite of him in his nice pink linen suit; she had to admit this was pretty cute. "I guess I'm going to have to stick a strawberry to your lapel, huh?" She joked.

[maidavika]

BRUNA MARQUEZINE wearing donna karan

[lovestereo]

Visit Original Link

[dinah-lance]

Camila Mendes by Cibelle Levi for the Bvlgari Gold & Steel Collection (May 2026)

[brysonlahey]

"You're the one who brought up my appeal." His voice turned teasing as he found his footing again. Though he would make a note not to underestimate Mariela or how much she was paying attention to him in the future. He had to give her more credit. "I'm not complaining. I've never seen the point in having a filter or dancing around things. I'd rather someone be honest with me than try to spare my feelings because they don't think I'm strong enough to take it." It was one of the things he'd hated most about his first few tries with therapy after everything that happened with his parents. "I was going to say yapper but I thought you might be offended." He raised his hand above the water, flicking a few drops her way. "That actually is a little surprising. I always thought you were like a social butterfly when you weren't with me. You seem like you get along with everyone."

[themarielaalves]

"That I did, I suppose that was entirely my bad, huh?" Mariela said with a playful roll of her eyes, laughing at the ridiculousness of Bryson. If she had a nickel for every hot guy with a big head she'd befriended, well she'd have several nickels at this point. "And honestly, I thank you for that. I might tease you for it, but you know well that I prefer that honesty." Mariela nodded as he spoke. "Well, if you promise to never bullshit me, I don't see myself doing it to you anytime in the foreseeable future." She told him, meaning that wholeheartedly. To say that Bryson had become one of her favorite people in town was an understatement, he just understood her in a way most people didn't. "A yapper? You see, you play a bit too much, okay." She said, before she flicked some water right back at him. "A yapper is crazy work." Mariela tilted her head, shocked to hear that. "Really? Sure, I hang out with the more talented members of our community, but even then, I'm not exactly the yapper of the group." She said, playfully narrowing her eyes towards him. "I have my group of friends and I happen to have lucked out with the people I've accepted into my life. You'd know."

[brysonlahey]

Bryson knew how he felt about himself, but hearing someone else voice the same sentiment nearly made him do a double take, though he tried to play it off. He could count the people who actually knew him on one hand, and despite the amount of time they'd spent together he wasn't sure Mariela was on that list. "Yeah? You want to tell me what else you think is part of my appeal?" Trying to play it off was the easiest way to cover up his surprise, but the truth of the matter was that she had managed to get under his skin without trying. "You're okay." He rolled his eyes once more, placing his hand over his heart in mock sincerity. "I'm not dwelling. You just caught me having a moment. And don't bullshit me. I know you're the first person who will judge the choices I make, and you definitely won't keep your opinion to yourself. You're a talker."

[themarielaalves]

"Uhm, you know, I do believe there's someone a bit better suited for the job." Mariela said, shrugging nonchalantly. "I wouldn't want to step into her area of expertise. Do feel free to ask your girlfriend when you see her next." She let him know, a playful smirk finding itself onto her features. Now a summer day in the pool, that was already great. But a summer day in the pool where she got to tease the man in front of her, she was having the best time. "I'll happily take okay from you." Mariela told him, happily knowing that meant great things in Bryson. "Good, I'm happy to hear it. That's exactly what I didn't want you to do." She said, purposely being bratty in that moment. "Okay, okay. You're right. But I truly only do it because I care about you. Seriously." The brunette said with a small pout. "Oh, c'mon now. I am not a talker. I talk to you, sure. But I'm not actively seeking out conversation with everyone. This might shock you, but I don't care for most people."

[brysonlahey]

"Okay, okay." Bryson groaned, instinctively holding up his hand to shield his eyes as best he could. It should've been that way but it hardly ever was. They both knew the truth of it all, but she was right when it came to the fact that he was better off not dwelling on it all. It was a quick way to put himself in a bad mood. "She can get in anywhere she wants and we have been here a few times. Doesn't make me feel like any less like a wolf in sheep's clothing though." He snorted, giving her a pointed look as he continued to back away from her. "I wouldn't go that far. If you're using the word cool to describe yourself I think that automatically knocks you down a peg. But I'm fine. I was just having a moment. It's definitely over now that you're judging me."

[themarielaalves]

"But aren't you always a wolf in sheep's clothing?" Mariela asked, teasingly as she tapped at her chin. "That's like a major part of your appeal." She added, as she was a fan of his. Clearly. But it wasn't like Bryson was Mr. Sunshine and Rainbows always— he, himself knew that and she was happy to be the one of the rare few folk that did get to see a semblance of that side. "Oh, you know I am cool." She scoffed, as he spoke. "And you're allowed, I just don't want you to think on it too hard. You're here for a reason, Bryson. And I'm quite happy you are." Mariela looked up at him. "Me? Judging you? No, I would never."

[sodapopscott]

"I'm okay without having the gravitas," he teased, beginning to swing his legs as he made himself comfortable on the edge of the stage. "Oh I know I'm there. Pretty sure I have been for years and you were just. little in denial before. But I'm glad we're finally at the point where you can be honest with me." He gave her a cheesy smile but there was no denying the tips of his ears had started to flush. Scott nodded along as he listened, chewing his slice slowly. He didn't know anything about the story so he was more than happy to listen. At least then he wouldn't have to admit that most he knew about Shakespeare was how stupid Romeo and Juliet were, and he only knew that much thanks to the movie with Leo. "It sounds fun. I think I might be more of a Mean Girls the musical type of guy. All the fancy wording just goes up and over my head to the point that I start losing focus if we're being honest."

[themarielaalves]

"Oh, do you?" Mariela asked, with a nod of her head. "So you've knew for years? And here I thought I had a pretty great poker face when it came to you." She playfully snapped her fingers. "Yeah, it's pretty nice to be on this end of it all. So let's say what you're saying is true..." Mariela said, the smile on her face only growing brighter. "you could have said something about it a little sooner, you know?" She told him, teasingly but she was a firm believer in everything happening as it needed to. "Scott, please, don't ever say that again." She fell into a fit of laughter. "I won't be able to save you from the on slaughter of theater nerds who are gonna lay into you for that. That's like one of the worst regarded musicals ever post that god awful movie." Mariela let him know. "Well, I don't know if you realized this, we ballerinas tell the story through movement. There's no words, like at all." She said, reaching over to run her fingers through the front of his hair. "So if that's not your thing, you might be a okay over here."

[brysonlahey]

"I'm at a pool and everyone around me is almost naked. What do you think I'm staring at?" Bryson's voice was teasing as he splashed water back her way. One of the perks of having rich friends had to be how easy it was to get into a pool that was crammed with people. Summer had never been his season of choice but it was a lot more easy to stomach when he could lounge around a pool with someone to bring him drinks like he actually mattered. "It's just weird being here. I used to hate the people who had memberships to places like this and now I'm soaking it all up like I've been coming here my whole life. If someone told me five years ago that this is where I would be now I would've laughed. I don't know how I got here." He shook his head, drifting a bit farther towards the deep end of the pool. "I'm just getting in my head."

[themarielaalves]

"You're getting splashed twice for that." Mariela let him know, with a playful scrunch of her nose before throwing more water over at him. "And I think you should definitely soak it up." She said with a nod of her head. "Places like this should be belong to more than just people of a certain tax bracket. Everyone should get to enjoy a nice pool and even nicer drink service, if you ask me." She said, with a shrug. She was happy that she'd been able to prove her worth enough for Stifler, but she hated that there was still such a stigma on who "belonged" at the country club and who didn't. "Well, I'm sure you can get in here with your girlfriend, she is a movie star after all. I doubt they'll be kicking her off of the premise but today you got in because you're besties with a really cool chick." She pointed over at herself as she spoke. "Get out of it then. C'mon, today is not the day to go all introspective on me. We're here to have fun."

[themarielaalves]

"What are you staring at?" Mariela asked Bryson, playfully before splashing water over at his face. Without a doubt, summer happened to be her favorite season. More so, as a Rosewood resident. The location just opened itself up to up to a whole new realm of possibilities when the average weather didn't dip under eighty degrees.

One of those possibilities had been brought up to Bryson by her, actually. Her apartment had been a bit stuff-y given the heat, which meant she was in desperate need of a pool day which found herself and her friend at the country club pool that afternoon. "I hate when you go all quiet on me." ( @brysonlahey )

[sodapopscott]

Scott trailed his fingers slowly along her spine as he pressed his lips together. If all else failed at least they could say they had fun together. "First off, that's bullshit. I can lift you if you want to be lifted. Besides it's not about skill, it's about vibes. And we're vibing. I can feel it in my bones." He trailed after her and took his seat at the edge of the stage, swinging his legs to try and burn off some of the energy he'd felt building up in his chest. "I'm a big believer that the way to someone's heart is through their stomach so this was just me covering all my bases here. Besides, I figured you might be a little hungry considering you were practicing all day. I don't think you ever told me what the next show is." He opened the box between them, grabbing a slice for himself.

[themarielaalves]

"I don't doubt that." Mariela wasn't blind. She very much could tell given the circumference of Scott's arms that yes, he could pick her up. "But there's just a bit more gravitas to it. It's not just you lifting me up in the air, but I'd be more than happy to teach you the nuances." She nodded, squeezing his hand ever so lightly. "We are vibing." Mariela confirmed, wanting him to know that they were on the same page. "So..." She began to say as she picked up a slice to pizza. "what I got from what is that you're trying to find a way to my heart?" Mariela said, teasingly as she began to bat her eyelashes in his direction. "Honestly? Between us, you've already had a small space there. But this definitely helps." She took a small bite. "Summer is always reserved for Midsummer Night's Dream— it was a play by William Shakespear that's now a ballet classic. It's set in old time Greece and it's got a ton of stories surrounding a wedding. It's better enjoyed than explained, actually." Mariela laughed, as she realized that she would sound crazy trying to give him the cliff notes.

[sodapopscott]

He'd expected her to roll her eyes or something similar, so hearing her agree with him caught him off guard. What she thought of him, what everyone thought of him, had always mattered to Scott despite how hard he pretended not to care. Knowing she actually thought highly of him was enough to cause his cheeks to flush. "I'm an open book, and I'm definitely not very hard to read." There were a few areas where his guard was higher than ever, but with Mariela things were easy for the most part. He'd never tried to hide who he was out of fear she'd reject him for it. With her, he'd always been 100% himself without hesitation. "I'm not gonna say I told you so but..." he let the word drag out, knocking his knee against hers. Physicality had never been something he shied away from but he knew better than to push his luck with her. He was following her lead in every sense for the time being, and something about that had his shoulders sagging as if she'd pulled some weight off him. "If you wannna tell me I'm the best dance partner you've ever had I wouldn't complain though. Just give me a heads up so I can pull out my phone to record it."

[themarielaalves]

"But..." She repeated after him, knowing that something ridiculous was about to leave his lips. The brunette opened her eyes, resting her chin against his chest as she looked up at him. "Oh, I know nothing would make you happier than to hear that." Mariela began, laughing soon after. "But... unfortunately, I can't give you that title. I have dance partners that literally lift me in the air. And that's not to say I can't see you doing that, but they are definitely top of the list." She pat his chest, pulling away from him just a tad but her hand not leaving his yet as she began to lead them back to the edge of the stage. "You do get extra points for being the dance partner who's brought me pizza. You don't know how badly I've been craving a slice or two."

[sodapopscott]

"I'm a nice guy, remember?" That wasn't usually the adjective people used to describe him but he planned on milking it for all it was worth. Besides, he wouldn't hate it if it was one of the words she associated with him. There were a few others he would've liked a bit more, but he could be happy with her thinking he was nice. "What can I say? Confidence does it for me. I love someone who knows what they want. And being bossed around here and there? You're speaking my language. I love an attitude." Scott made a show of waiting until the last possible second before he caught her. For a second he thought she was on the verge of kissing him. The look on her face definitely made him falter for words as embarrassing as it was. After all his teasing and jeers at her over the years the thought of something happening actually made him nervous. She made him nervous even if he wouldn't admit it. But then she shifted and he felt the air pouring back into the room, something that caused him to laugh nervously. "Your next dance partner is so screwed." He tilted his head to the side, resting his cheek against the side of her head as he slowed down their movement and shifted one of his hands to rest on the small of her back instead. "Did I pass?"

[themarielaalves]

"You are." Mariela agreed with him. Despite how annoying he might have came off in their younger years, she couldn't deny that Scott had always been nice to her. He'd always provided an ear for her whenever she'd needed to vent or helped her get out of her head entirely, he'd always been a great friend to her. It sucked that life had taken down different paths for the last couple of years, but perhaps everything was working out exactly as it had to? "You know, I always gathered that from you." She teased, as it certainly explained why they'd always gotten along as well as they had.

Mariela couldn't help but feel her cheeks warm up at the sight of him. The look on his features in that moment, she couldn't quite describe him within the usual words people used to speak of him. We all knew Scott was hot, but there was something cute and charming about how he was looking at her. Just a couple of months ago, the idea of this would have terrified her. It would have sent her into a spiral, not wanting to throw anything into her life that would throw it into something unknown. But she needed to stop living like that. She needed to stop anticipation the next move and just live in it. "Oh, he's definitely going to have some big shoes to fill." She joked, enjoying how they were just swaying to the song behind them. Mariela closed her eyes, enjoying the scent he was wearing. It was perfectly him. "You passed. With flying colors."

[sodapopscott]

"I like that." It sounded like they were on the same page with things. At least initially they'd been pulled into dancing because it was a way to connect them with other people. "And I can totally see little you obsessing over hitting every step right. You've always been a little type A. Especially when it comes to this." He snorted at her words. For as mnuch as she liked to poke fun at him for being overly confident she surely didn't seem to be lacking in that department. "If you weren't one of the best I don't think you would be here." She'd managed to climb her way to the top of a system that didn't exactly want her there considering where she'd come from. He'd accepted what he was and what people thought of him a long time ago, but she'd taken the opposite route and it was something he'd always admired. "It's pretty hot, actually." Scott rolled his eyes though his smile never faltered. "I can handle you, Alves. That's never been the problem." He squeezed her hand in warning before making the move to spin her.

[themarielaalves]

"Type A is putting it nicely." She said, as Mariela knew she'd had the blinders on. This had been what mattered to her, everything else had always taken a back seat. Why? Because she knew that if she didn't make it here, she'd have to resort to the life that her father had. And she refused to not have her family name stand for more than just... that. But she was at a place now where she could breathe. Mariela had put in the work, and through all the odds... she'd made it here. "I'm gonna have to agree with you there." Mariela laughed as he spoke. "I had no clue that's what did it for you." She teased, squeezing his hands ever so playfully. Her eyes met his, a small laugh leaving her lips as she looked away from him for a moment. Let's put those words to the test. Mariela undid herself from his embrace, spinning out from him as far as their width of their arms before making her way back into him. She found herself face to face with him once more for a beat, before dropping her face into his chest.

[sodapopscott]

"That'll be the day I die." He shook his head, shrugging innocently. Scott never wanted to hit a point in his life where he stopped having fun again. Life was too short and he intended on making the most of it. Besides, she knew what she was getting into when it came down to dealing with him. "Thank you. You wanna tell me how you got into this?" He motioned around the stage. "Well let me know when you want to stop. I didn't come here just to get a few free lessons out of you so I won't disappear if you decide you want to sit." He interlaced their fingers once she took his hands, easily falling into step with her once more. "I think you're the first person who's ever tried to lead me."

[themarielaalves]

"Me?" Mariela asked, biting down on her lower lip as she thought back to her earliest memories of dancing. "Easy. My grandmother, she adored all those old time-y musicals. Singin' in the Rain, The Sound of Music, West Side Story and I just loved what I saw. That our bodies could express itself in such a way, and it just looked so cool... I knew instantly that's what I wanted to do with my life. So I would replay those musical numbers... god only knows how many times until I was literally like 9 years old, knowing every step to America but then ballet came into my life and it changed everything. I loved the precision and much like that girl you saw at that party, how fluid everything just came together. Sure, it could be a bit stuffy and the rules drove me nuts but I wanted to be one of the best at this." She looked around them, at their surroundings before their eyes met again. ''And I might not be the best, but I'm damn near close." Mariela shook her head as they continued to dance. "I'm having a perfectly great time." She said, the smile on her face only growing brighter as he spoke. "Am I? Well, how's it feel on the other side?" She asked, as they swayed together until they were on opposite sides of where they'd began. "Just so you know, we can't end until you give me a good spin. C'mon now. You think you'll be able catch me when I come back in?"

[sodapopscott]

Seeing the look on her face instantly cause the corners of his mouth to curve up. "I feel like I'd be missing out on an opportunity if I didn't say a lot of more things are more fun with a partner." He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "There were so many parties and quinces in our neighborhood when I was younger, and so many of my friends older brother's would sit off to the side while the girls danced together. One night I saw this girl who moved like she was made of water or something. Completely blew ten year old me away. The first thing I did when I went home that night was ask my dad to teach me how to dance so the next time I saw something like that or someone like that I wouldn't have a reason to hesitate." He laughed softly, eyeing her feet for a few seconds before he fell into step with her. "I don't think I can get much looser unless I pop one out of place," he teased, doing a little spin of his own if only to match her energy before he settled in closer to her again the way he would have if they actually were at Katz, his hand not quite resting on her hip. "You don't- I don't expect you to put on a show for me or go full zumba class."

[themarielaalves]

"You know at some age, I believe you'll resist going for it." Mariela said, with a pat to his chest as she shook her head. "It's clearly not today, but one day, I think you're just going to let it fly over our heads." She found herself rolling her eyes with a laugh, as he wiggled his eyebrows at his "cleverness". "That does tend to be the way, huh?" Often times, it was truly pulling teeth to get a guy to come onto the dance floor. But never with Scott, he'd always found himself on a dance floor by his own accord. And hearing the reason as to why, only made her more fond of the man in front of her. "He definitely taught you well." Mariela said to him, as he'd easily fallen into the rhythm of the song playing from the phone's speaker. "And I can't say I want to be responsible for that happening, so let's make sure that doesn't happen." She said, cheering him on as he'd spun before himself back in her space. Not minding the lack of distance between them. "No, I don't intend on going full zumba class on you. Believe it or not, doing a whole show today has sort of worn me out. But when in your company... and when Bad Bunny is on, I can't resist." She said, before she began to lead the way again. This time she took a hold of his hands, one of her feet taking a step back before coming forward with the other to the beat of the music in a way they both knew well given they'd grown up at the parties and quinces.