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[sup][color=gray]Collab with:[/color] [@Universorum][@Silent Observer][@Lovely Complex][@melissahart][@smarty0114][/sup]
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[indent]Hailey was growing impatient. Truly, she knew the blame for their tardiness was on herself; she had chosen not to leave earlier. She had known perfectly well that Ophelia and her girls would take an eternity to prepare themselves for [i]any[/i] social outing, particularly a party. Then there was the unknown factor of Sean Sterling, the returner. Hailey had no way of knowing how efficient he would be. She should have set aside more time.

The blame was on her shoulders, yes, but there was certainly no reason for her to be [i]happy[/i] about it. So, when she tapped her wrist and looked across the way at Ophelia, before snapping to grab the Candyland Queen’s attention away from her cell phone, Lia had just shrugged. It wasn’t her fault! Marshall was his own person… 

[color=eda946][b]“I’m texting him. Like, [i]a lot[/i]. What more do you want me to do?”[/b][/color] She said in a defeated voice, looking around the limo for help, but noted that she would find none when she realized what her girls (and Jamie) were doing.

Meanwhile, across the way, Sean — who had placed himself very close to his sister, not much wanting to interact with these people he did not know — leaned to her ear and whispered, [color=a5a5a5][b]“[sub]Por favor, diles que dejen de mirarme.[/sub]”[/b][/color] He said softly enough for only her to hear. Truth be told, the two girls flanking the one who never looked up from her phone, and the boy from before… kinda made Sean feel like a piece of meat on display. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

[color=ffb5fd][b][sub]“Ellos no te reconocen. Di hola.”[/sub][/b][/color] Selena responded to her twin in a hushed whisper.

Ophelia shook her head and sighed, sending out one last desperate text:

[quote][color=eda946][b]GUMDROP HURRY B4 HAILEY ORDERS U AND UR FAMILY’S DEATHS[/b][/color][/quote]

[color=15603A][b]“Ahem.”[/b][/color] Trixie purposely cleared her throat loudly to break the tension, or at least try to. New faces. Late people. A wrathful Queen. [color=15603A][b]“Why don’t we… start drinking?! I mean we can’t arrive at the party without feeling buzzed. Here.”[/b][/color] Shifting in her seat, Trixie opened the storage unit by her right leg and grabbed the… of course Hailey would only have hard liquor. Shots of whiskey it is! [i]Gross.[/i] In a matter of minutes, with still time to spare (man, whatever they were doing, they were taking their SWEET time), shot glasses had been filled to the rim with whiskey and passed around. One for every single person in the limousine. [color=15603A][b]“Hailey, why don’t you give us a little toast while we wait? For good karma!”[/b][/color] 

To say that Brynn was shook was the understatement of the year. The moment that Sean stepped into the limo, the girl’s jaw nearly hit the floor, and she tried her best not to pass out right there. Who was this blonde haired, dark eyed [i]angel[/i], and why had she not been in his bed before? Brynn began plotting how exactly she would seduce the boy, but was brought out of these daydreams by Trixie passing around shot glasses of whiskey. The only thing that could distract her from boys was alcohol.

Since the night had begun, Jamie had seen Selena’s brother both half naked and fully naked, survived part of a car ride with the Bitch Queen herself, Hailey Green-Locke, and was now about to take a shot of whiskey with the It Girls and the Candies. Whoever said ambition didn’t pay off, was dead wrong. As he shot back the whiskey, fire flooding his insides as the whiskey traveled down, he noted that poor Sean was the object of too many of the passengers’ watchful eyes, his own included.  [color=31ba9f][i] If that boy survives the night without one of us ending up in his bed, he’ll be lucky. Or unlucky. Who knows at this point?[/i][/color]

Much like her cousin had just done to gain attention, Selena also cleared her throat. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Jamie already was introduced —”[/b][/color] her eyes flicked over to the sandy-haired boy, recalling the more-than-awkward interaction that they’d had, and cringing internally for it. [color=ffb5fd][b]“— but this is my twin brother, Sean. He’s been away at a different school for a few years, but he’s back now.”[/b][/color] Selena’s face broke into a genuine grin then, more true than anything most of the people in that limo had ever seen from her — aside from Trixie, of course. For the first time in years, Selena had something real to smile about, and it felt great. She squeezed her twin’s hand comfortingly as she introduced him, sensing his discomfort. Call it twintuition.

A toast? Was Trixie serious? Of course, Trixie would want a toast. Hailey raised an eyebrow when Trixie pulled out the whiskey — why didn’t she grab the champagne, or the wine? Hailey truly didn’t understand this woman; she hadn’t been herself ever since she and that treacherous leech Owen had broken up. Luckily for her, Selena stepped in before she had to give a ‘toast.’ Rather than respond, [color=922b2b][b]“With all due respect, Trixie. Let’s let introductions commence first. Plus, the Radleys will be here shortly.”[/b][/color] She nodded in the direction of the thirst mongers, Jamie and Brynn.

Shrugging at Hailey, Trixie poured herself another burning, unpleasant shot of whiskey, because why not? It would hit her hard and fast. That’s exactly what she needed. [color=15603A][b]“Well, I’m just going to help myself then.”[/b][/color] Was she turning into a alcoholic? Oh god, she hoped not. This shit was nasty. Her eyes darted across the way to Sean and for a good, long moment, she stared with narrowed eyes at his almost perfectly symmetrical face. Examining him like she did when she met any new person. [i]Sean…[/i] [color=15603A][b]“My, my, my. You’ve gotten [i]big[/i].”[/b][/color] She may have not seen her second cousin in years, but she could recognize those eyes any day. Anywhere.

 Jamie shook his head at Trixie’s comment. [color=31ba9f][b] “Oh, you have no idea,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, louder than he’d anticipated. In fact, he hadn’t even been anticipating saying that. His face flushed crimson as he looked up at the stares he was receiving from the rest of the limo. Selena, who had attempted to take her shot precisely at the moment Jamie spoke up, noticeably choked in shock. [i]Awkward.[/i]

A rational adult would have marked that as the point where one should stop drinking, even if it had only been one shot. But Jamie was seventeen, and believed that drinking could solve embarrassment, rather than enhance it. And so, he quietly and gently took the bottle of whiskey from Trixie, and poured himself another shot, which he quickly drank, or rather swallowed. [color=31ba9f][i] Oh, Jesus Christ, get me through this night, I’m begging you. [/i][/color]

After what seemed like a millennia in stasis, whilst the limo idled in the circular driveway of the Radley residence, the front door [i]finally[/i] cracked open. Marshall exited first, pulling his sister in tow excitably. He skipped down the steps and over to the limo’s door, which the driver now held open for the siblings. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Heyyy~”[/b][/color] Marshall cooed enthusiastically as he entered the luxurious vehicle. His eyes quickly found her, his Candy Queen, and he was helpless but to greet her in his usual way — despite the physical distance between them. Marsh climbed over all of the passengers, his dancer’s grace making it look surprisingly easy even though he was quite tall. Once he got to Ophelia, they touched cheeks on both sides, making kissing sounds in the familiar european greeting.

Having succeeded in his goal, Marsh made his way back towards his own seat — once again climbing over all of the passengers. It was then that he noticed that one face was not like the others. Who [i]was[/i] that boy, no, that [i]man[/i] sitting next to SelBell? Marshall stopped and very shamelessly stared at him. There was something familiar about him, but Marshall couldn’t quite put his finger on it. But, boy, would he sure love to put more than just a finger on it.

Sean, who had declined the offered shot, cleared his throat and spoke loudly for all the occupants of the limo to hear. [color=a5a5a5][b]“I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF ALL OF YOU WOULD STOP STARING AT ME. I AM A HUMAN BEING, NOT AN ANIMAL ON DISPLAY.”[/b][/color] With that, he turned his attention back down to his lap, but the damage was done: not only was Sean hot, he had a deep, booming voice.

[color=922b2b][b]“Never yell in such a close vicinity to me, ever again.”[/b][/color] Hailey couldn't care less what Sean looked or sounded like.

Marshall startled when the mystery guy suddenly barked out his rejection. His eyes widened, but only momentarily, before he apologized. [color=997fdb][b]“Sorry, hun. Just didn’t recognize you.”[/b][/color] Following that, he went to sit by his sister. Wait, Martha wasn’t there, and the limo had already left their driveway. Panicked, he texted her to make sure she was still coming. They’d come so far, she couldn’t just bail now!

Brynn blushed a deep shade of burgundy, realizing she had no excuse, like Marshall did. It wasn’t [i]her[/i] fault that Sean was so attractive. For the first time since he got into the limo, she looked away, deciding to bring her attention to Marshall. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“What took you so long?? We’ve been waiting for ages.”[/b][/color] She started, grabbing another shot of whiskey to help her forget about the ordeal which just took place. 

Hailey let out a low sigh and tapped her knuckle on the window. It slid open for her, and she spoke to the driver, her beloved Butler, James. [color=922b2b][b]“Some music, please, Butler. Something soothing, preferably. Classical.”[/b][/color] There was some sound of acceptance from the driver, and the window closed as [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaJmgMuYNjc]music[/url] began to play throughout the limo. Leaning her head back against the pillow, Hailey finished her glass of whiskey and closed her eyes. [color=922b2b][b]“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m fairly sure this is on track to be the worst night of my year. Not of my life, to be sure, but certainly of my year.”[/b][/color]

Marsh looked to his fellow Candy, Brynn, and smiled apologetically. [color=997fdb][b]“It takes a minute to look this good, babes. There was that, and the matter of… vampire porn.”[/b][/color]

For the second time in the same evening, Brynn couldn’t help her jaw falling directly to the floor once again,  a dramatic gasp escaping her lips. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“I’m sorry, WHAT? Where, who, how, and why?”[/b][/color] The girl tried to wrap her head around the statement, and also tried her best not to look over at Sean’s reaction. She really needed some horse blinders right about now. 

Jamie looked up at Sean after he blew up, then quickly glanced back down. He hated to admit that his voice was hot as fuck. That felt wrong. He’d just blew up about being objectified and here Jamie was, objectifying him. Luckily, Marshall was here now, and he could objectify him with less guilt.  As he sat in the limo, trying to avoid the tension wafting off of Hailey, he tuned into Brynn and Marshall’s conversation, right at the wrong moment. Vampire porn. Interesting, and thoroughly weird. Tuning back out, he turned to the rest of the passengers. [color=31ba9f][b] “So, how exactly, [i]are[/i] we gonna get in to this thing?”[/b][/color]

[color=eda946][b]“Jamie, hush.”[/b][/color] Ophelia said, having finally pulled herself up from her phone. Ignoring almost everyone else in the limo, she turned her attention to Marshall. [color=eda946][b]“Vampire porn. Go on, please, Gumdrop.”[/b][/color] She said with a flash of the game winning smile she was [i]practicing[/i] to use on the Elite to get them into this fucking party.

[color=997fdb][b]“Ehh,”[/b][/color] Marshall shrugged as if what he had just said was no big deal. In his world, with his rather strange sister, it wasn’t all that outlandish. [color=997fdb][b]“It was a bit too hetero for my tastes, but, ya know. I could ship it.”[/b][/color]

[color=15603A][b]“Marshall, Marshall, Marshall.”[/b][/color] Trixie was feelin’ good and this conversation intrigued her. She scooted closer in the direction of Marshall, leaning over, which kind of showed a bit of her cleavage, [color=15603A][b]“Paint me a picture. Tell me all about this vampire porn. I want to know more. Position and all.”[/b][/color] Was she drunk? Yeah. Definitely. The whiskey bottle was already over a halfway gone. 

Marshall’s eyebrow quirked up at Trixie’s already slurred words. Invoking his maternal nature for the second time that night, he finessed the bottle from her grasp and poured a shot for himself, before passing the whiskey off in the [i]opposite[/i] direction of Trixie. [color=997fdb][b]“Oh, there was a picture painted, alright. I mean, the level of detail…”[/b][/color] Marsh’s eyes were wide as he shook his head a little, and then smirked. [color=997fdb][b]“But, that’s besides the point, ladies. I have a very special job for Candyland. It’s very dear to my heart, you see, because my beloved Martha is at the center of it. I have made a discovery.”[/b][/color]

Perhaps unfortunately for Marshall, it wasn’t Candyland that spoke up. It was the witch queen. [color=922b2b][b]“[i]Marshall.[/i] Don’t take things from Trixie. She wasn’t done with that.”[/b][/color] Hailey shook her head dismissively and turned around, retrieving [i]another[/i] bottle of alcohol — this one of pineapple rum. She opened it and leaned over to Trixie, pouring another glass for her. [color=922b2b][b]“Enjoy, beautiful.”[/b][/color]

Lia looked over at this heinous display of alcoholism and internally groaned. This entire night was FUCKED. It was BONED. However, she turned her attentions to Marshall, doing her best to ignore Trixie’s apparent alcoholism. [color=eda946][b]“Of course we’ll help you with that, Gumdrop. We’d be honored. Go on!”[/b][/color]

[color=15603A][b]“I have a new drink in my hand. When did that happen?”[/b][/color] The words of her peers were going in one ear and out the other for Trixie Kingsley. Her mind was set. They were about to go to a party where Owen will be inconveniently placed in spite of her. She was not ready for that. Her solution? Drink. 

The boy was just trying to help, to look out for one of his girls, who was apparently dead set on drinking herself into a coma. This… this was all Owen’s fault. His adultery broke Trixie-pixie’s spirit, and that was unforgivable. To make matters worse, Hailey was encouraging Trixie’s dangerous behavior. There was no point in making a scene about it, some battles aren't worth fighting — mostly those involving confronting Hailey Green. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Well, great! Grayson Wells, you know the guy? Shaggy hair, on the football team, a little bit edgy looking? Preeeetty sure my sis is into him. Let’s make it happen, but, delicately. She’s my sister.”[/b][/color] Marshall said, expressing the seriousness of the situation. If they fucked up her chances at love, he’d never recover from such a tragedy.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]“That’s so exciting Marshall!! The Candies are definitely on the case.”[/b][/color] Brynn replied, her smile brighter than ever. She [i]loved[/i] doing this kind of thing, mostly because she liked getting in everyone’s business, but also because she wanted to see people happy. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“Maybe we can get the ball rolling at the party tonight? Test the waters, see what the situation is?”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“You certainly may, but first there is something we need to do.”[/b][/color] Hailey looked around the group, before leaning across the way to one of the small fridges in the limo, pulling out a plate. She sat back in her seat, gazing at the cupcake that rested on the center of the plate. It was chocolate, with a peanut butter frosting, and half off of a peanut butter cup sitting on top of it. She looked around the vehicle, before her attention eventually landed on Jamie. 

She held out the plate.

[color=922b2b][b]“Eat the cupcake, Jamie.”[/b][/color]

Jamie froze. He didn’t trust Hailey. He wasn’t one to trust easily in the first place, but Hailey was not the kind of person you easily trusted, either. His mind was racing. She wouldn’t be trying to poison him, right? That would be insane. [color=31ba9f][i] Cool it, Jamie. It’s just a cupcake. Even if it was offered in the most ominous way possible. [/i][/color] As the sand filled the bottom of the hourglass, Jamie reached out and took the cupcake, and then lifted it to his mouth, and took a bite. [color=31ba9f][b] “Oh wow! Is that, peanut butter frosting? Oh, shit that’s good!”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“Thank you. I baked it myself.”[/b][/color] Hailey smiled brightly in Jamie’s direction, seemingly satisfied. [color=922b2b][b]“Enjoy, it’s all yours. Once you get far enough in, there’s some peanut butter filling too — but I believe I made it far too… well, creamy. The frosting, I believe, is ace.”[/b][/color] Hailey liked to bake, and she liked to have her baked goods judged — but all of her girlfriends were on diets (Marshall included), and Sean was… weird. It fell on Jamie to be the designated taste tester.

Happy, she turned her attention to Ophelia. [color=922b2b][b]“As our local wordsmith, it falls on you to convince Owen to let us in.”[/b][/color] Hailey said.

Ophelia silently gulped, then beamed brightly, holding up two thumbs. Easy. Turn the slut up, get this shit done.

Under her breath, while deeply gazing into her glass, Trixie mumbled to herself, [color=15603A][b]“Kitty…”[/b][/color][/indent]