[center][h3][color=crimson][b]ARI FRANCIS ADASSI[/b][/color][/h3]
[img]http://24.media.tumblr.com/1a1b563a4dfe3219c05a4638a62dfa23/tumblr_mkekjn7txR1qa5ncdo3_500.gif[/img][/center][hr]
When Ari first woke up, he didn't concern himself with anything other than texting Jar to ensure that he was up, too. God knows that guy can sleep until noon on any given day. It was kind of endearing - not that Ari had any business thinking that way when his best pal had just ended a relationship, but whatever, it's not like any of this was a big deal. Even if he'd felt this way for a while. [color=crimson][i]Fucking yikes.[/i][/color] Ari opted for a cold shower first to shut both his brain and body up, which seemed to fix the issue at least for now. Bonus: he wasn't going to smell bad on the first day, so his peers should be celebrating their luck.

Jareth gave him an hour and a half, which Ari thought was way too much time, but he figured his friend would need the precious time to get his damn hair in order. Ari didn't think he'd mind if Jar came over with a bedhead, it'd look kind of cute - fuck. Forcing his mind to stop working, Ari tugged clothes on as aggressively as possible, finding himself in all black plus a camo windbreaker that seemed to be ten sizes too big for him. Ari cursed his stupid fucking genes that left only five feet and six inches of height to his name, and the Converse he was shoving his feet into didn't help either. He considered investing in platforms over a cigarette.

Thirty minutes to spare and he had to get breakfast in... and meds. They were optional these days, but he really didn't wanna feel horrible today, of all days. Not that antidepressants did their entire job, of course - mostly, he just grew more apathetic, but it was better than contemplating jumping in front of Jar's car when he eventually pulled up. Resigned, Ari hovered around the orange bottle sitting on his nightstand before dry swallowing 200 milligrams. For good measure, he took another pill, totaling to 300 mg; which, of course, couldn't be a good idea, but the extra kick might help him through the day. Over the next half-hour available, he stared into the mirror, willing the redness around his eyes to dissipate. Fruitless. 

By the time Jar arrived, his teeth were chattering from the extra dose, and he couldn't keep his eyes in half-slits like they usually were, but his friend looked thoroughly contented that he wasn't totally slumped over today. [color=crimson][b]"Hey, killer,"[/b][/color] he replied as he practically collapsed onto the seat. Their entrance into the school was equally anticlimactic, mostly because Ari refused to walk beside Jar rather than directly behind him. He was kind of staring; at the crook of Jar's shoulder, at his side profile when he got close enough, at the curve of his arm when he tilted his phone to read. After a few minutes of fawning, Ari huffed sharply, dilated eyes flickering around for [i]anything[/i] else to focus on.

His attention was forced when a sharp elbow, predictably bony, stabbed him in the ribs. Ari glared up at Jar, once again reminded of the ridiculous seven-inch difference between them and beyond annoyed by it. The distasteful look on his face dissolved, though, when the flyer landed on his hands, and Ari studied it somewhat suspiciously. [color=crimson][b]"Oh, God,"[/b][/color] he said automatically, lips twitching. A pit was already in his stomach, and they didn't even have, like, real plans for this. He shrugged his shoulders, blaming the sudden anxiety on the meds. [color=crimson][b]"You know what? Yeah, yeah, we should -"[/b][/color] He cut himself off, registering the way Jar's gaze moved away briefly, disconcertingly.

Ari narrowed his eyes, figuring it was none of his business, but he was still pissy as hell. He set his lips in a tight line, gnawing on the ring set in his bottom lip, before deciding to acknowledge it. [color=crimson][b]"Looking for someone?"[/b][/color] he pondered knowingly, tone just breaching the border of cynical. Ari was vaguely aware of what The Dreaded Ex, She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named got up to for money/in her spare time, and wondered for a fleeting moment if that's how Jareth entertained himself. Ari nearly gagged on the thought, and as inconspicuous as he liked to think he was, his face was distorted into an expression of slight disgust. He busied his nervous hands with folding the flyer and shoving it into his coat pocket.

[sub]{collab/s incoming}[/sub]