Wanna hear a great Zay story?

ZAY BABINEAUX. NEW YORK'S BEST BARTENDER. Don't let my buddy Lucas fool you, people from Texas? We're actually pretty cool. Especially me, since I've got a knack for drink-making, story-telling, and if you get me drunk enough you might even get to see a few cool magic tricks out of me. A GIRL MEETS WORLD POST-COLLEGE RP

[zaybarbineaux]

What's one thing you want to cross off your bucket list before the end of the year?

I’m perfect the way I am, but I asked Luke and he says I should put ‘get over ‘Nessa by the New Year’.

[isadorkiestsmackle-blog]

Get your party on, New York!

If you’re over the age of 21 (sorry, young Matthews and friends) and I’ve actually spoken to you in the last two years, you’re invited to a party of sorority proportions tomorrow night, Thursday, in my apartment. Alcohol and food will be provided, but of course feel free to bring more of your own. Consider tonight a test run - if it goes well, I very well may start hosting more of these soirees, and if not, at least I know I don’t have a knack for hosting. See you all then.

[zaybarbineaux]

If you’re feelin’ lucky -- or like being nice to your real favorite Texan, it’s okay, Luke can handle the truth -- you might even have a real live bartender offer you his free services for the evening. 

[hafael-archive]

[zaybarbineaux]

johnbcyega:

@jboyega_: Morning motivation. #wakeuplikeroyalty #Filmingiseasierthisway #Princeakeemboyega

[zaybarbineaux]

TEXTS ✉️ ZAYNESSA

VANESSA: It did..

VANESSA: [unsent] I have a lot to be sorry for.

VANESSA: Okay.

VANESSA: Hope you're doing well, Z.

ZAY: Yeah, you too, V.

ZAY: Being friends doesn't have to be awkward.

ZAY: I mean, if you even wanna be.

ZAY: You can come to me with stuff, I know you better than almost anybody.

[zaybarbineaux]

TEXTS ✉️ ZAYNESSA

VANESSA: Thank you. For reminding me to drink water.

VANESSA: Sorry.

ZAY: Yeah, I hope it helped.

ZAY: You don't need to be sorry.

[zaybarbineaux]

TEXTS ✉️ ZAYNESSA

VANESSA: i dn't wamnt to bothre you, i'm os sorbry, but i'm oyut drkning with my coworkesrs and we were taginlk abotut uor future weddings and i realpized i still dthnik abouht you wgehn fi think about getdinsg marreid

VANESSA: i leov you sbo mchu. i've loved you fwor sho long.

VANESSA: i'm sorry about everythingn. it just scares me how much i nlove you and the worst part isn't that you were asrking me to cchange too much, it's how ready i hwould've bfeen tyo throsw etverything awjay for myou

VANESSA: i miss yomu

VANESSA: do you micss me?

ZAY: Y'know, there's a time I woulda automatically just said 'you're never bothering me' to that.

ZAY: But no, Nessa, you're not bothering me. You texted the right guy, bartenders always remind ya to drink water before you go to bed so you don't feel like shit in the morning.

ZAY: You know I can't just fall out of love with you that fast. And I always miss you, but that doesn't change what happened. It's kinda hard to think about marrying somebody that won't even come visit you.

ZAY: Someday you'll find a good old Texas boy to dream about marrying instead.

[drfarklestein-blog]

BABY DADDY || GMW GUYS

[lawyeredriley]

[Josh grinned at Maya, feeling relieved just at the sight of her. Even if Riley had been pregnant – which he could tell she wasn’t, just from his girlfriend’s reaction – it was all okay now that his other half was here.] “The little guy over here thought it was you at first, babe, but I told him you’d have let me know if it was, so that’s how we ended up on Riley. And come on – we all know all of your friends are in this room, and she’s the only other one capable of having a baby in here, unless Dr. Turtleneck cooked up some pretty weird science experiment.” [The look on Riley’s face was too filled with shock and horror still, though, for Josh to completely buy it… and then suddenly it dawned on him, the only other person they might have been helping. The very person that he’d helped his nephew become sexually active with not all that long ago…]

[This was all too much for Riley – there were accusations going around about her being pregnant? She’d never even had sex!] “How could you guys think I was pregnant?” [Riley demanded, her jaw hanging open in shock. She felt defensive, and she folded her arms over her chest, wondering if she’d looked fatter lately or something or if they really just had that little faith in her being safe or telling them about major life events. She didn’t want to tell Ava’s secret, though; she just silently fumed as her glance went from Zay to Lucas to Farkle to… Josh. Riley froze when she saw a look of recognition in his eyes, and she wasn’t going to say anything, she didn’t want to say anything – but word vomit bubbled up in her throat, and before she knew it, she was blurting out the truth.] “It’s Ava’s!”

[drfarklestein-blog]

[Farkle didn’t know whether to defend himself from assuming Riley was pregnant, from first assuming it was Maya, or from saying he definitely hadn’t figured out a scientific way to have a baby himself, but he didn’t have to worry about it long before Riley’s eyes grew larger and he found himself leaning in closer without thinking about it, knowing she was about to say something that would change everything. He almost couldn’t believe it when he heard it, but he saw the look Maya shot Riley and he knew it was true. He suddenly felt ridiculous for freaking out with Josh and including so many other people in it and he didn’t know what to do now, thinking about little Ava Morgenstern pregnant and a roomful of people she barely knew painfully aware of it.] “Does Auggie know?” [He finally let out quietly, breaking the silence.]

[mayahartsart-blog]

[Maya saw the click in Josh’s eyes as soon as it happened - it was part of being a couple for years and years, knowing him so well. Being Riley’s friend so long was also a pretty safe guarantee that Maya felt the outburst right before Riley let it out, but it didn’t stop her from shooting Riley a look for blabbing Ava’s secret. The room was understandably awkward after that and Maya spared a glance at Josh, trying to read his face, until Farkle spoke up. She shrugged.] “Don’t know. We just went to the doctor and it’s on her to tell him now.” [It was uncomfortable talking about another girl’s baby and she knew Riley felt just as tired as she did, and maybe even worse now that she’d let out the secret.] “I just want you guys to know that this? It’s none of our business. And if you guys judge her, I swear, you’ll have to mess with me first. Got it? Let Auggie find out from her, no meddling! Promise.” [She wandered over to Josh while talking, putting her hands on him somehow without really thinking about it, but when she was done talking, she moved her eyes up to his knowingly.] 

[petdoctorfriar]

[Zay shot Lucas a look that clearly said ‘told you we shouldn’t have come here’, but damn Lucas looked like he wanted to stay. He just never could resist the chance to be somebody’s night in shining armor, but if Zay had to forcibly drag him outta here, then he would. It was clear the others had stuff they needed to deal with, and him and Luke weren’t a part of it, no matter how much they might want to be. Although Zay personally didn’t wanna be anywhere near dealing with somebody else’s baby drama, so he gave Lucas a push towards the door.] “Don’t worry, we won’t say nothing.” [Zay promised the group as he full on pushed Lucas, who mouthed an apology to Riley for some reason even as Zay dragged him out the door.]

[drfarklestein-blog]

BABY DADDY || GMW GUYS

[matthewsandson]

[Josh tried not to snicker as Zay called Charlie out; after all this time, he’d finally picked up on what Lucas found so icky about the dude. And while his niece’s ex wasn’t his favorite person in the world, either, Charlie’s only redeeming quality seemed to be the cute way the Maya exclaimed ‘cheese souffle’ every time he walked into a room. Without Maya here, there really wasn’t much use for the kid, so Josh leaned back in his seat, kicking his feet up on the table and making himself at home.] “Actually, if I had to guess which one of the things in this room is not like the other one, I’d say you’re probably the first person who’d go, Gardner. So take a hint or take a seat, doesn’t really matter to me, but I’m willing to bet these guys aren’t leaving.”

[petdoctorfriar]

[Lucas was still gaping at Charlie – the nerve of that guy! He seriously would never figure out what all the girls thought was so sweet about him, but the pressure of Zay’s hand on his shoulder kept him from reacting badly. Instead, Lucas remembered that today wasn’t about Charlie. It was about Riley, and him losing his cool wasn’t going to help her and the little baby growing inside of her in the slightest. Taking a deep breath, then another and another until he finally felt like he wasn’t going to explode, Lucas went and sat down on the couch next to Josh, sitting on his hands so that he wouldn’t ball them up into fists.] “Thanks for the update, Charlie, but I think we can take it from here. Farkle?” [Lucas looked at him hopefully; after all, it was Farkle’s home. Only he could make the call to truly kick Charlie out.]

[drfarklestein-blog]

[Farkle needed the time with the Charlie interruption to calm down towards Lucas - and readjusting to the fact that Lucas was not in fact the father of Riley’s baby - but almost as soon as that anger had faded, his attention focused on Charlie, who was definitely not welcome. Yes, he was Riley’s friend, but he was more of her clueless suitor who just always showed up and hoped she’d finally notice him, and Farkle didn’t have time to humor his delusions today, even laughing at Zay’s shade before taking the cue from Lucas and bounding up to Charlie, snatching the flowers out of his hand and adding it to a vase by the door.]

“I’ll tell her you stopped by.” [Farkle nodded pointedly at the door.] “You say you care. Prove it. Get out of here and don’t her any more stress. She’s already got a lot to handle with the baby.” [He looked away from Charlie, ending the conversation and giving him a view into the hallway…where Riley and Maya were visible.] “Riley.” [Farkle said weakly, not being able to help looking at his friend differently now that she might be carrying life. Charlie lingering in the hallway didn’t make the situation any less awkward, since Farkle wasn’t sure what Riley had heard and if she knew they were talking about her, so he let out another “Bye Charlie”, the other boy finally taking the hint and walking out with a gentle pat on Riley’s shoulder as he passed.]

[lawyeredriley]

[Riley couldn’t believe the afternoon she’d had; she wanted to just get home and lie in bed with Maya and watch movies. They’d promised Ava they wouldn’t tell Auggie until she was ready to, but Riley hated secrets, and she had no idea what to do about the fact that she was going to be an aunt soon. Sure, Josh had been an uncle at her age, but that was so different! It didn’t count! Linking her hand through Maya’s, they walked towards the apartment front door, only to be met with total chaos. Riley’s eyes went as wide as saucers as Charlie walked past her, and she felt guilty for being glad that he was one less person to have to hide a secret from right now. Tentatively, she walked through the threshold, looking nervous as she started at Zay, Farkle, Lucas, and Josh – a group that was usually only altogether when she and Maya were there as the glue.] “Um, hi guys! Not to be rude but… why are you all here?”

[zaybarbineaux]

[Zay glanced around at the faces of his friends, all of them frozen and trying to figure out what to say. They were acting like they’d been caught doing something naughty by their mamas, when really they’d just all been rallying to support Riley. He couldn’t take much more of this, everyone staring around stupidly waiting for someone else to act, so finally Zay took a step forward, deciding to just blurt it out and get it all over with.] “WE KNOW YOU’RE PREGNANT!”

[newsgirlnessa-blog]

It’s not pretend, you know I don’t play pretend. It was hope. Hope that one day, everything would just…click. Make sense with us. But we always only make almost enough sense and almost isn’t enough anymore. I’m sorry, Zay. Have fun in your precious New York. You two deserve each other.

[zaybarbineaux]

[drfarklestein-blog]

BABY DADDY || GMW GUYS

[drfarklestein-blog]

[It hadn’t taken much more than Lucas answering and saying he was on his way for Farkle to taste blue. He hadn’t passed out in a long time but his weird hunch that Lucas had anything to do with Riley’s pregnancy proving true was too much for him to handle, and before he knew it he was opening his eyes to see Josh shaking him awake. Sitting up uneasily from the ground, he heard footsteps approaching as Lucas and Zay walked in, Zay already making jokes like it wasn’t the most serious thing ever.] “He learned manners? He learned manners?! He didn’t learn enough manners not to knock up the most special girl in the world, did he?” 

[Farkle felt himself getting angry - a rare occurrence that only really happened when someone messed with one of his girls - and it gave him strength though his head ached from hitting the ground. Shakily, he got to his feet, and pointed an accusatory finger at Lucas.]  “You’re going to marry her, right? You can’t leave Riley alone and pregnant in this world! And I’m more than fine having her and the baby live here and helping out with money but that baby isn’t growing up without a father, Lucas! That is not an option, and I’d do anything to make sure you know it.” [He knew threatening Lucas was ordinarily a pretty dumb thing to do - he was still a few inches taller and definitely vastly stronger than Farkle - but Farkle was insane when it came to taking care of Riley and Maya, and Lucas knew that. Hopefully Lucas wouldn’t put up much of a fight, since he obviously cared about them too, and they’d resolve this as quickly as possible, if it was possible.] “What do you have to say for yourself?”

[petdoctorfriar]

[Lucas looked bewildered as Farkle started going off on him, about his lack of manners and marrying Riley. It was all too much for him to process; he’d just barely let it sink in that Farkle was clearly being revived when he’d walked in, and now he was getting a lecture that made no sense. Farkle was saying words, but Lucas couldn’t wrap his mind around them.] “Farkle buddy, you’ve got to slow down here. You think… wait, you think I got Riley pregnant?” [Lucas scoffed at the idea – sure, he’d wondered sometimes what getting back together with Riley might be like, but there was a reason it had never happened. But then Lucas realized he’d never answered Farkle’s question on the phone, and he almost wanted to laugh, except his friend looked so serious that he held back, slumping onto the couch next to him instead.]

“Farkle, man, it’s not mine, I promise. Riley and I – we’ve never done that, I swear. If it’s really hers… It’s not me.” [He tilted his head, looking at Josh curiously. Lucas must have missed something, because if he’d had to guess first, he probably would have assumed it was Maya’s baby first, and not Riley’s. But the other guy seemed completely calm, and he didn’t press, instead turning to Farkle once more, and indicating that Zay should be serious, too… even if internally, he was freaking out. Lucas always liked to protect his friends, though, and right now Farkle seemed to need somebody to be calm.] “Okay, we just gotta – I mean, I’ll help her too, we all will, but first we gotta tell her we know and that we’re all here for her. A baby’s not going to change that, so… when do you think she’s gonna be back?”

[charmingardner-blog]

[Charlie had been walking towards the door with a bouquet of violets when he heard Farkle yelling from down the hall. Intrigued, he walked faster, and listened at the door for a few moments as Lucas denied parentage to… a Riley child? Charlie was painfully acutely aware to the fact that Riley wasn’t sexually active, so this whole conversation felt like it was out of the x-files, but he couldn’t help making an entrance at Lucas’s question. Hiding his surprise behind a casual smirk, he waltzed in, pushing the slightly open door all the way and leaning on the wall besides Zay, flowers still in his hands.] 

“Well, Lucas, usually on days like this she’s back in her apartment two hours ago. She had something to do, though. She texted me a half hour ago that she was getting on the subway, so it should be any time now, but she seemed tired, so I don’t know how she’s going to feel about coming home to this congregation of men, so maybe you should just leave.” 

[zaybarbineaux]

[This was a hot damn mess, and Zay was going to need Lucas to order him an extra pizza on the way home to make up for throwing them into the middle of this. He knew his best friend like he knew his own hand, though, and as soon as Charlie Gardner had the nerve to show up, acting like he owned the place, Zay stepped forward and put a hand on Lucas’s shoulder, before he could even react. Nothing riled Lucas up more than that guy acting like he had some claim on Riley, and Zay knew the last thing any of them needed was him going all Texas-Lucas on the joint. Instead, he tried to diffuse the situation by putting all the attention on Charlie instead.] “What, did you know about this? Or are you just that guy that carries around flowers for girls who ain’t interested?”

[newsgirlnessa-blog]

It starts with a weekend trip once in a while and soon it’s a key to your place. If you give an inch, they take a mile, and I want all my miles here. In my home.

I don’t know.

[zaybarbineaux]

Well why bother making a key for someone who’s obviously never gonna be here, no matter how much I want her to see it? You know what, Nessa? Let’s just cut past the ‘I don’t know’ and call it what it is. We’re done, right? That’s the only way for this to end, so let’s stop pretending it’s ever gonna change.

[newsgirlnessa-blog]

It makes me feel replaced because you don’t want to do that here! You don’t want to show me off here in Texas, and make sure I’m happy here in Texas - you want to make me happy as long as I’m in New York, like it’s so much better! I’m a strong, independent woman who’s not going to move just to make you feel better. What’s wrong with Texas? What’s wrong with your “old life” that makes you fight for me going to you so hard? You’re right, I don’t want things to change, but you’ve always been okay with that and if you’re not now - I just don’t even know. I’m not going to New York. So if you’re not coming here, maybe it’s for the best we’re so far apart. 

[zaybarbineaux]

Of course I wanna do that stuff down there, too! That’s why I come visit you. But I wanna share my life with you! How are you supposed to get what my life’s like if you never come see it and let me let you be a part of it? I wanna make you happy wherever but sometimes I wish you’d try to make me happy, too. For crying out loud, I ain’t asking you to move here and be with me forever, it’s just a weekend trip every once in a while. So that’s it, then? After all this time, it just ends like this?

[zaybarbineaux]

TEXTS || ZAYA

Maya: It's been like ten years since I met you - you'd think my tough love would've whipped you into shape by now, Babineaux :-P I guess I'll just keep respecting you till you respect you too.

Maya: I'll subtly implant the dog note onto him, don't worry. You can't keep letting her yank you around, dude. Either she wants it or she doesn't, and if she doesn't? Find someone who does.

Zay: I slid under the radar, Hart. Most of your fixin' went to Luke and the little guy, I was perfect just the way I was :-p

Zay: If it's really over this time you ain't sending a group chat begging people to get me dates like you did with Farkle, okay? We're going out and meeting people at a bar the old fashioned way, with you as my wingwoman (You'd do better than Luke)

[zaybarbineaux]

TEXTS || ZAYA

Maya: That's different. It's not a matater of distance, Zay. It's a matter of effort. If since we'd gotten together, Josh had a habit of flaking on me and not putting any effort in? I'd probably think about it, since I know I deserve better :-P She's not willing to try new things or anything that's not in her immediate plan and that's not cool. You know that. I don't know why you put up with it time and time again.

Maya: I'm sorry though. That it's close to quits again though. Do you need anything?

Zay: Love makes a guy do crazy things, even fly a thousand miles to see her whenever she wants me to even though she never does the same. PLus you've known me since I was what, 13? YOu should know by now I got no self respect :-p

Zay: A puppy? Tell Luke to stop wasting time and actually go buy us one like he keeps saying he's gonna. Otherwise I don't really know what else I can do. It's hard to think about it being over since with us it seems like it never really is.

[newsgirlnessa-blog]

I just need some more time to come around to a decision! I hate the idea of leaving Texas behind! I hate it, and the more times you INSIST I go on up to New York with you and everything else you like better…it just makes me madder and wonder if some things are better left behind in Texas. Like me. Going up there just…reminds me that you have a new life that’s not about me and it makes me want my life that’s not about you down here. And I love you, of course I do, and what we have and have had is beautiful, but it feels like you’re already gone and you just don’t know it yet and I’m sorry if fighting not to be forgotten isn’t as fun for me as making my own memories.

[zaybarbineaux]

Maybe if you ever actually came to visit me instead of making me do all the work you’d realize that it ain’t about me liking them better, Nessa! If you were here, I’d drop everything to show you around, show you off to people, make sure you’re happy and having a good time. How does that make me the bad guy? How does any of that make you feel replaced? You got a life without me down there, too -- it ain’t the same as when I left, but I’m not worrying that it’s more important or that it’s replacing me. At least I wasn’t, until it seemed like you stopped caring about this relationship being a two way street. So what am I doing here? Why am I still trying when it doesn’t sound like you want anything to ever change? Should I just give up now?

[drfarklestein-blog]

BABY DADDY || GMW GUYS

[matthewsandson]

[While Farkle leaned back, Josh was leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his hands in his head. He was trying hard to think of a way that this could be Maya, that she would keep this from him… But that just wasn’t how their relationship worked. Sure, they didn’t love talking about serious things, but this was a seriously good thing. If they could handle talking about his dad’s store, and about the logistics of them moving in together, then surely she would have come to him if she’d been worried about being pregnant.] “Dude, unless Maya’s on her way home with a cake that says ‘We’re having a baby!’ on it to announce the news, I just don’t think there’s any way it’s her… She knows I’d be stoked to be a dad, and we’re the only ones who are, you know, employed and in a relationship and actually kinda ready for a kid. She wouldn’t have any reason to be scared or to hide it from me.”

[Which left Josh having to seriously consider the alternative, too – that his niece was the one pregnant, and something fishy was going on here. Had she acted out because Maya had said she was moving in with Josh? Riley never had dealt with change in the most sane of ways. And she was the type to have a meltdown before turning to people for help, too. Josh cast a sidelong look at Farkle, not sure if he should be amused or annoyed by his contribution to the conversation.] “Before we jump to immaculate conception, should we maybe call the big guy and ask him? You know, if there’s something going on with him and Riles?”

[drfarklestein-blog]

[Farkle nodded softly; the more Josh spoke, the more right he seemed - Maya would have no reason to hide this news from him, from any of them, really. And she hadn’t seemed too excited earlier when he saw her leaving with Riley so that couldn’t be it. Maybe….at the mention of calling Lucas, Farkle felt some hot anger growing in his stomach but he waved it off. Lucas was his friend and if that was the case…well, they’d work it out and maybe they were really meant to be.] “Right. Right, I’ll give him a call.”

[The phone rang a few times before Lucas picked up.] “Hey, Lucas. It’s just me, Farkle. Random question, but you wouldn’t have happened to have left something over at our apartment, would you have? Certainly not your sperm, right?” [He cringed as he asked it, but the nerves made him babble.] “We found a pregnancy test and Josh says it’s not Maya’s and I don’t know who could’ve been the dad if it’s Riley’s so I just thought I’d ask.” @petdoctorfriar

[petdoctorfriar]

[Lucas and Zay had been kicking back, having a guy’s night, since Zay had a rare night off of work and had been down in the dumps after his latest fight with Vanessa. When his phone started buzzing on the table, incessant in its vibrating, Lucas shot his buddy an apologetic look and swiped to answer, hearing Farkle start rambling before he’d even finished his greeting.] “Woah, Farkle, slow down – Riley’s pregnant?”

[On instinct, Lucas was off his feet and grabbing a jacket, waving for Zay to do the same. He didn’t even realize he’d never answered Farkle’s question; if Riley was in trouble, friends were there, it was just what they did. And a baby when she was, as far as he knew, single and way more concerned with law school than with starting a family.] “Sorry, buddy, I’ll make this up to you.” [Lucas mouthed the words to Zay, then into his phone he let Farkle know they were coming.] “We’re on our way.”

[zaybarbineaux]

[Zay grumbled the whole way to Farkle, Riley, and Maya’s apartment, making sure Lucas didn’t hear the end of how annoyed he was. If Riley wanted people to know she was pregnant, she’d tell people she was pregnant, Zay reminded his friend in a cross voice. If Riley’s having a baby and Lucas isn’t the daddy, what place did they have getting in the way, anyway? By the time they were climbing the stairs to the apartment, Zay’s curiosity had won out, but he hadn’t shut up anyway, wanting Lucas to know that he was going to have some serious making up to do for dragging him out in the middle of their movie, with perfectly good pizza still on the table.] “All right, we’re here -- I don’t know why we’re here, but at least we came in through the front door, that’s new, apparently Luke learned some manners during college.”

[zaybarbineaux]

TEXTS || ZAYA

Maya: There are girls out there that could make you just as happy AND who'd actually give a shit. It sounds like a foreign concept, right? Wrong! It's legit and it's what a functioning relationship is like. You guys have been stuck in this weird halflationship thing because distance or her job or whatever excuses she wants to throw at you and you deserve more than excuses. If she's not willing to give anything else, there are plenty of girls that will. We're in New York, the capital of the world, and you're a young hot bartender who's hilarious and kind and just the greatest guy to be around. You wouldn't be alone for long. It's hard because I sorta like Vanessa - even if she's always hated me - but more than making her happy, I care about you. I want you to have better.

Zay: You think you'd just give up on Josh if you two weren't living in the same place anymore? Cuz no offense Shortstack but I can't really see that happening. The world don't have a capitol, and New York's not even the USA's, but yeah yeah, I get what you're saying. I think she'd really like it if she ever spent any kind of time up here, but she's just so stuck in her ways, you know? There'd be great stuff for her to do if she gave New York a try, and I'm not saying she has to move here forever. Just like, actually visit instead of always making me come to her. I don't think you gotta worry about it anymore though because it seems like we're close to calling it quits again