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Mentions: [@Silent Observer]
Location: Kitchen/Snack Area[/sub][hr][/center]Leaving the ordeal behind them, Brynn, Sean, and Marshall made their way into the party, mainly in the pursuit of alcohol. They’d need [I]a lot[/I] to forget about what just happened back there, but Brynn knew there was more than enough to go around. When the Elite threw a party, there was usually enough booze and alcohol to feed an army.

The landscape was just as she expected. Students were strewn everywhere, drunk and stumbling, with loud music blasting that could almost pierce your eardrums. Usually, Brynn would already be dancing on the tables or off with some football player, but right now she just felt overwhelmed.

As soon as the trio found their way inside, Brynn witnessed Marshall seemingly gain the ability to walk on his own, and watched as he began meandering his way over to the bar. She knew he had milked the "Help me, I’ve been strangled!" bit so he could feel up blondie’s biceps. [color=cornflowerblue][I]That bastard[/I][/color]. With Marshall abandoning her, this left Brynn alone with Mr. Hero, and she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous standing next to him. Trying to cut the silence, she spoke, [color=cornflowerblue][b]“That sure was something out there. Sorry that had to be your re-introduction to Beverly Hills. Owen is, well, [i]Owen[/i], and he had to make a scene.”[/b][/color]

Sean didn’t want to be here, he honestly didn’t. His sister had dragged him along, damn near physically and against his will. After what had just transpired outside, though, he was pretty sure it was a good idea he had shown up. Everyone else, it seemed, had just been stressing out — having damn near [i]panic[/i] attacks in some cases. Sean knew what to do in situations like that, stay calm. Stay cool.

He was glad he’d been able to defuse it without a fight. He had a feeling Owen knew how to handle himself in such a situation, and he didn’t really want to fight. Not yet, maybe even never again. When Selena had walked away, Sean had chosen to attach himself to someone else from the group that he already knew, having not been entirely sure if the other people would react kindly to the way he’d kind of… well, shut Owen down.

Plus, Brynn was cute. After she spoke to him, he just gave her a nod and a small attempt at a smile. It wasn’t perfect, that was for sure, but hey. Sean hadn’t exactly been a very big smiler lately. [color=a5a5a5][b]“Hey, someone had to do [i]something[/i]. I feel like if I hadn’t, Marshall wouldn’t have been able to walk himself to the bar like he did… Can’t have that kind of thing happening on my first outing.”[/b][/color]

To Brynn, Sean seemed pretty subdued. Even after everything that just happened, he remained pretty indifferent, the only sign that he had any sort of emotion toward the situation was the slight attempt of a smile he gave, as well as his choice of words.  [color=cornflowerblue][b]“Marshall would have been toast if you hadn’t been here. His idea of a fight is arguing with the clerk at Bloomingdales about giving him the wrong size shoe to try on.”[/b][/color] She smirked, a small laugh escaping her lips. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“He was lucky you were around.”[/b][/color]

Well, at least he was appreciated. There had been a part of him worried he had overstepped his bounds, but Brynn (that was her name, right?) seemed to not feel that way. Check her off the list. [color=a5a5a5][b]“Thanks, I’ll be here for… well, the rest of my life, unfortunately.”[/b][/color] Sean’s eyebrows furrowed and for a brief moment, his face seemed saddened, but then he smelled something delicious. He tipped his head back, sniffing more intently. [color=a5a5a5][b]“I think I smell… well, I don’t know what it is. But it smells [i]delicious.[/i] Let’s go eat it. Like, all of it. It smells cheesy. I love cheese.”[/b][/color] Sean reached down and grabbed Brynn’s hand, rather than waiting for an answer, and he tugged her along the way over to where the food was.

Food was the one thing that made him happy, no matter what. There were so many wonderful flavors and tastes he’d yet to experience. When he saw the spread laid out on the table, he looked over at Brynn. [color=a5a5a5][b]“Okay… you’re the native. What do you recommend first?”[/b][/color]

One second Sean was growling at her not to stare at him, and the next he was taking her by the hand and pulling her around with him. This kid sure was confusing, and Brynn couldn’t exactly tell what his deal was, but she went along with it. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“You can’t really go wrong. Mr. Wells is an incredible chef. His son Trevor is one of the Elite so he made all of this for the party. Pretty generous if you ask me.”[/b][/color] Taking a look at all of the options, she gestured to one of the plates to the left of Sean. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“If you like cheese though, the Mozzarella Sticks are bomb. I think Mr. Wells uses three types of cheese in them, they’re addictive.”[/b][/color] Gazing up at Sean, she couldn’t help but stare into his gorgeous eyes, but remembering the epsiode from earlier, she looked away, focusing rather on the rest of the party than him.

Sean watched as she looked up at him, for a few seconds that lingered longer than perhaps they needed to, and then turned her attention away from him, and rather to the rest of the party. Well, at least she was [i]trying[/i] to be mannerful. Plus, being stared at was… much more bearable when it wasn’t an entire limo of people gazing at you like you’re the next item for bid at an auction house. Rather than mention anything, Sean first went for one of the mozzarella… sticks. Sticks? Those things looked more like logs.

He picked one up and hefted it in his hand. Heavy. Good. He pulled it up to his mouth and bit down on it, suddenly feeling his mouth explode in a menagerie of tastes and cheesy goodness. This was everything he’d ever imagined when thinking about food. This was it. SURELY, it couldn’t get better than this. Sean held the cheese stick up to Brynn’s lips, and though he spoke, his words did not address the food. [color=a5a5a5][b]“Thank you for trying. I’m not exactly a social person, so being in the limo and having people just like, oogle me… was the worst thing. I appreciate it.”[/b][/color] There, now Brynn at least knew that her efforts did not go unnoticed.

Brynn let a smirk play on her lips briefly before taking a bite of the food Sean had held out to her. It was surprising, almost sweet, seeing the change in the interaction between them, even from just a few minutes earlier.  It also didn’t hurt that a hot guy was feeding her food. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“Yeah, I know we all can come on a little too strong, [i]especially[/i] me, but I hope you don’t hold that against us.”[/b][/color] She replied. Her eyes flickered down to the table to look for something else to taste. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“Here, try this.”[/b][/color] She stated, dipping a chip into homemade guacamole and mimicking his actions from a few moments ago.

Sean was happy to eat the chip that was offered to him, crunching it down before he spoke simply. [color=a5a5a5][b]“I’m not going to lie to you or sugarcoat it. I’m pretty sure you and your friends are crazy, after what I saw. Hailey, that’s her name, right? The Ringleader. She was egging Owen on the whole time. [i]And[/i] she littered with that Sprite can.”[/b][/color] Sean winked. [color=a5a5a5][b]“She’s the craziest.”[/b][/color] But seriously? How did no one else see it? Maybe he just didn’t have the full story — but from where he was standing, Hailey had [i]wanted[/i] that to happen.

[color=a5a5a5][b]“Sticking with my gimmick of not lying or sugarcoating things, I would like to take you outside and dance now. That’s a party thing, right? I’ve never been to one before.”[/b][/color] While speaking, Sean obtained another cheese stick, biting it and watching as the cheese strung out in front of his lips.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]“Never sugarcoat things. That’s the way I like it.”[/b][/color] Brynn was known for being brutally honest, so she was glad to know that he felt the same way about being truthful. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“Hailey is indeed something else. Much like Owen, she tends to enjoy making a scene on her terms, even if it seems wrong or krass. I can understand why you think she’s crazy.”[/b][/color] On the subject of dancing, she realized how sober she was in comparison to everyone else. Usually by now if she was talking to a boy [i]this[/i] attractive, she would’ve skipped the formalities and found a room by now. But, after speaking with him and actually getting to know him a little bit (a new concept to her), she knew that was probably the wrong move. And by the sounds of it, Sean had never been to a party like this, so dancing sounded like a plan.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]“Yeah, that’s a party thing. Let me get a drink first, and then we can go and check it out, okay?”[/b][/color]

[color=a5a5a5][b]“Sounds good! What are you drinking?”[/b][/color] Sean himself wasn’t a [i]huge[/i] drinker, but he could go for something. New year, new him. Might as well see it in drunk and dancing with a girl he barely knew. [color=a5a5a5][b]“I’ll go with you, maybe there’ll be something I’m interested in.”[/b][/color]

Brynn took his hand, not waiting any longer to get a drink in her system, and brought him over to the bar. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“Tequila is my signature, but I’m pretty much down for anything.”[/b][/color] she replied grabbing two of whatever drink the bartender was making. [color=cornflowerblue][b]“Who knows, maybe you [i]will[/i] find something you’re interested in. Everyone has a favorite, they just have to find out what it is.”[/b][/color] She spoke, mentally noting the double meaning in her words after they had left her mouth.

[color=a5a5a5][b]“I think I already [i]did[/i] find something I’m interested in.”[/b][/color]