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[color=slategray][sub]A [@Universorum] and [@Fabricant451] collaboration
Featuring: [color=b57f13][b]Henry[/b][/color], [color=9acd32][b]Parker[/b][/color], and [color=ffefd5][b]Min-seo[/b][/color]
Location: Henry’s car[/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr]
[indent]Henry was sure they were going to be late. In fact, it was a wonder they weren’t late every day. Between Parker sometimes not wanting to get ready, and Henry [i]never[/i] wanting to get ready, the trio of Henry, Parker, and Min-seo had exactly one responsible person between them: Min-seo. Min was always ready for school on time; in fact, she was often doing [i]work[/i] before they even needed to be ready. Parker and Henry held her back, but! They’d gotten in the car and were on the way to school! Which would hopefully only be half as terrible as the day before had been. Henry had been sentenced, but things were looking up, after all, the Helmsleys were back. Never, could that be a bad thing.

There was something that Henry needed to get off of his chest. See, the night before, when that girl had been around taking pictures of Parker (some kind of school project), Henry had flipped through the photos she’d already taken and learned something about his younger friend that didn’t exactly make him happy. Parker lived in a tent. That was [i]not okay![/i] For a bunch of reasons, but they weren’t very important. What [i]was[/i] important, was that Henry had made an executive decision. Parker was moving in!

He just hadn’t told her yet. First he had to broach the subject to Parker. Henry had been awkwardly glancing at her in shotgun for the past few minutes… but now? He decided to attack the issue headlong. [color=b57f13][b]“Parker. Why didn’t you tell me you lived in a tent, man?”[/b][/color] He asked, giving her a sidelong glance again as they drove toward the school.

From the back seat Min had quite the vantage point. While she was occupied by doodling, as she often did to pass the time, she couldn’t help but to notice the way Henry seemed to be stealing glances towards Parker; Parker, who was occupying herself by looking at her phone, seemed oblivious. But Min could tell straight away that her assessment was accurate. Only boyfriends looked at their girlfriends like that. Min wasn’t upset, just surprised that Henry’s type tended towards the...loud. Maybe it was an American thing. 

Parker on the other hand hadn’t even noticed the looks from Henry. She had other plans. Plans that included watching clips of cartoons to stave off the boredom that came from riding in a metal box to school. She had called shotgun even before they had left the house, which was a total faux pas but Min still didn’t even understand the concept of ‘shotgun’ and was happy to sit in the back anyway. Her attention was on the wacky antics of colorful characters until she heard her name and suddenly her little bubble was bursting. 

[color=9acd32][b]"YOU DIDN’T ASK! AND YOU NEVER COME OVER!”[/b][/color] Parker’s answer was as blunt as can be and she was back to her phone as if the interruption hadn’t even happened. [color=9acd32][b]"DUMB PHONE! YOU CAN’T SKIP THE COMMERCIALS!”[/b][/color] Parker, in her impatience, wound up pressing the ad, bringing her to an entirely new section of the internet where commercials and ads were on the side bar. 

And in the back, Min-seo kept looking between the two in the front, wondering just when that whole thing started.

Henry put his head back against the headrest, and shook his head. He shouldn’t have had to ask about that! She should have just told him, and asked him for help. But he supposed he should have known better when Parker was involved. [color=b57f13][b]“I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. Look, there’s a party tonight, but you’re not goin’ Park. You’re movin’ in with us, so after school I’m gonna leave you with Butler. Hailey’s butler, that is. I talked to him and, well… her, and she has no plans tonight other than to stay in. So we’re borrowing him. He’s gonna take you shopping for some furniture and stuff and help you move in…”[/b][/color]

Henry briefly twisted his head to glance over his shoulder at Min-seo in the backseat. [color=b57f13][b]“to Min’s room. You guys are gonna share a room. Is that cool? I don’t think there are many options near me that are open, so I thought you guys could share?”[/b][/color]

Min was, in a word, speechless; she didn’t exactly understand the why of it only that Henry had decreed that Min-seo was going to have a sudden room mate. The room was plenty big enough but it was a bit unexpected. Maybe he wanted to live together with his girlfriend but in that case why have Parker move into Min-seo’s guest room? Why not room together? She had thought American couples slept in the same room, or maybe that was just a marriage thing specifically. [color=ffefd5][b]"Cool? O...Okay.”[/b][/color] She didn’t want to be the one to come between lovers. But Min-seo didn’t mind Parker, she was often exhausting but she made Min-seo laugh. How bad could it be,honestly? 

[color=9acd32][b]"WE’RE GONNA BE ROOMIES! LIKE SISTERS! CAN WE GET BUNK BEDS?”[/b][/color] Parker was excited enough for the both of them; she was practically bouncing in her seat and if the seatbelt hadn’t been in place she probably would’ve faceplanted onto the dashboard. 

[color=ffefd5][b]"Wait...party? Another party?”[/b][/color] Min-seo looked towards Henry now, her eyes already prefacing what she was about to say. [color=ffefd5][b]"No serve drinks...please. No more.”[/b][/color] Last time had been overwhelming and if she was going to go she would have liked to go without the pressure. 

[color=b57f13][b]“Nah, don’t worry about that, we won’t be bartending this time. It’s on Becca’s boat, and I know her and her family. There will probably be a paid professional bartender happily serving alcohol to underage kids. It’ll be great,”[/b][/color] Henry grinned, and winked at Min before he looked at Parker and shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t give a shit if they got bunk beds. [color=b57f13][b]“I don’t give a shit if you get bunk beds. I told Butler to buy you whatever you think is essential, so go ahead and do whatever. He’s gonna swing by your place too and he’ll help you box up whatever you want… a tent, Parker?”[/b][/color] Henry had a ton of questions left to ask, but he didn’t think now was the time. Parker was way too focused on whatever she was watching.

Henry brought the car to a stop in the normal parking place in front of the school, and peered over at Parker’s screen, [color=b57f13][b]“what are you watching, anyway?”[/b][/color] He asked, before he had a sudden realization, and snapped his fingers. [color=b57f13][b]“Oh yeah! I forgot, Min, but if you’ll open the center console, and the little door behind it… you’ll find a token of my appreciation for all the hardwork you did at the party.”[/b][/color] Henry grinned. In the hidden compartment, was a small stuffed Donald Duck, who was holding three tickets to Disneyland, dated for later in the month.

Min-seo let out a small sigh of delight. She was okay with a party - it was a school night so she would make sure her homework was done first - so long as she didn’t have to stress out over drinks. That had been a nightmare but also a learning experience. She learned the names of drinks, she learned that tequila came with a chaser and a lime and salt - usually on the body of someone - and she learned that American party music was just as loud as the pop music she was used to. 

The foreign exchange student was curious enough to look into the compartment - cars were full of surprises - and after struggling a bit to get the door open she let out a happy little shriek. [color=ffefd5][b]"Donald!”[/b][/color] She exclaimed as she hugged the stuffed thing close, not even noticing the tickets in favor of hugging the sailor-suit wearing duck mascot. Today was going to be a great day, Donald was going to go to all of her classes today! 

[color=9acd32][b]"I’M WATCHING MINCY!”[/b][/color] Parker answered the question, bringing the happy mood of Min-seo crashing down a bit. [color=9acd32][b]"LOOK, MINCY, IT’S YOU!”[/b][/color] Parker had gotten lost on the internet and began clicking around different commercials, which had been shockingly funny, and the rabbit hole led her to foreign commercials which were much brighter and full of choreography. Min-seo’s face dropped as Parker held the phone out, making it visible for both Min-seo and Henry. 

True enough, Parker wasn’t just being accidentally insensitive. There on the screen, doing a bubbly dance while holding a soft drink and wearing a much less conservative outfit, was Min-seo. A remnant from her past in Korea, though this commercial was shot back in October, and the only difference between the Min-seo in the commercial and the one who was scrambling to get Parker to click the ad off was the fact that the carbound Min-seo always made sure to wear shirts that covered up. 

Henry turned his attention to the phone that Parker was holding. He stared at the screen, and could verify that [i]yes[/i] this was Min-seo. HOWEVER, the Min-seo on the screen was dressed much more… provocatively. In fact, it was perfectly fair to say that she was dressed [i]exactly[/i] how Henry liked. [color=b57f13][b]“Oof.”[/b][/color] Henry leaned toward the phone in Parker’s hand  to look more closely at it, and then glanced back at Min-seo. [color=b57f13][b]“How come you don’t wear that shirt?”[/b][/color] He asked, pointing at it.

[color=b57f13][b]“Because you should. I like it a lot.”[/b][/color] He said, before going so far as to rewind the video to watch again. [color=b57f13][b]“Hey, Min, you wanna go to the party tonight? Like [i]with[/i] me. As a date.”[/b][/color] Henry made sure to be very blatant with his clarifications, so that nothing to lost in translation here.

Suddenly Donald Duck was the furthest thing from Min-seo’s mind. She squeezed the stuffed duck tight but that was more for her own comfort and sense of security than the cuteness that had caused her excitement mere seconds ago. She was, of course, aware of the existence of the commercials - that they existed were courtesy of her stepmother - and she couldn’t exactly get them removed as she was not the owner of the product or the video in question. The very last thing she wanted was for them to be discovered, and she felt like she had a good handle on it. After all, who at this school knew enough about Korean pop culture to care about their commercials? 

She was embarrassed, given that she was using Donald Duck as a way to hide her face, but she didn’t know quite what to say. [color=ffefd5][b]"I left the shirt...home.”[/b][/color] Min’s answer to the question came through the wall of Donald. Her clothing choices had been much more modest, a means of separating her Korean life from her new one in America. It wasn’t as if Min-seo was some kind of ugly duckling, just that she had made strides to keep herself plained down. 

[color=ffefd5][b]"D..Date? I...I can’t you...you are with...Parker.”[/b][/color] It wasn’t exactly a no that Min-seo was putting down. 

At this, Henry froze. With Parker? He slowly shook his head. [color=b57f13][b]“What? No I’m not. Parker’s just a friend of mine. We’re [i]definitely[/i] not dating,”[/b][/color] Henry was sounding a little defensive, but honestly? He felt justified in doing so. Min had been with them for a few months now, and she thought he and Parker were dating? Come on, half the time it was pretty plain to see that he was almost [i]babysitting[/i] Parker. Definitely, not dating her. [color=b57f13][b]“Where did you get [i]that[/i] idea? Tell her, Parker.”[/b][/color] Now, Henry wanted some back up.

Parker and Henry [i]weren’t[/i] dating? Min-seo blinked behind the duck, confused. They had to have been, right? [color=ffefd5][b]"But...she’s always at your house. And on New Year’s you...you took her up the stairs. You were looking at her…”[/b][/color] She was seeing things that happened but reading different interpretations of it. All signs pointed to them dating. 

[color=9acd32][b]"HENRY? EWWWWWWWWWWW”[/b][/color] Parker was vehement in her denial, shaking her head like Henry had a case of the cooties. [color=9acd32][b]"HENRY’S MY BEST FRIEND, MINCY. BUT YOU’RE PRETTY OKAY TOO. HE’S LIKE...LIKE MY BROTHER. AND BROTHERS DON’T KISS SISTERS. THAT’S GROSS. DON’T BE GROSS, MINCY.”[/b][/color] Parker wasn’t sure where this whole thing got started but over the past few days people had been asking her about Henry and her and she was getting really annoyed by it. How many more times would she have to say it! 

[color=ffefd5][b]"But...you...it looked...I am sorry.”[/b][/color] She was already embarrassed but now Min-seo felt like she wanted to just disappear forever. What a colossal misunderstanding she had caused. [color=ffefd5][b]"Can I still...party?”[/b][/color] 

Henry rolled his eyes over at Parker. She had a point, though! Henry was like her older brother, and she was like his littlest sister. Even more so than Cyndi, his actual youngest sister. When Min asked if she could still party, Henry fired back with his answer. [color=b57f13][b]“Yeah, if you go as my date.”[/b][/color] He paused, and then casually added, [color=b57f13][b]“And wear that shirt, from the commercial.”[/b][/color] There, ultimatum laid. Game set and match. Your move, Min-seo.

There was a problem in the request which might well have put a damper on the party. It wasn’t that Min-seo was opposed to showing up as Henry’s date - she actually [i]wasn’t[/i] since it seemed like the only means of getting into the party anyway, it was the fact that the shirt in question was an ocean away. Min-seo shook her head at that, Donald slowly being lowered to a more reasonable position, hugged tightly against her chest. [color=ffefd5][b]“I...don’t have. The shirt is..at home. Home home. In Korea.”[/b][/color] If that was going to stop her from going to the party, so be it. But there was no way to get the shirt from Seoul to Beverly Hills in time. 

Henry’s face immediately erupted into a huge frown, and he considered his options. Who did he know that knew a thing or two about clothes and could help him out in his time of need? Not many people. But… there were his half-sisters. Luna and Stella. They would be exceptionally helpful in this situation! [color=b57f13][b]“That’s okay. I’ll take you to see my half-sisters after school. They’ll doll ya up for me, then drop you off at the party, or somethin’. Is it a date?”[/b][/color] Henry asked, putting the final say in Min’s hands.

While waiting for her to answer, Henry had the silent realization that he was looking at Min in an entirely new light. Shocking what seeing someone in a crop top would do to him. But Min was seriously, [i]seriously[/i] cute. Maybe it was helped by the Donald stuffie that she held her hand, but Henry’s face softened from the frown, to a more half-smile, [color=b57f13][b]“pleaseeee?”[/b][/color]

Hopefully Parker never wore a crop top.

Min-seo was already on the verge of agreeing, though why she had to see half-sisters after school confused her. Couldn’t she just show up at the party with Henry? After school was typically when she did homework, what did ‘doll up’ mean? She wasn’t a doll! But still she sighed; she’d never seen Henry act like this, he must’ve really wanted her to come and it was bound to be another learning experience. Was that not the point of the exchange program? 

[color=ffefd5][b]"Okay. It is..a date.”[/b][/color] Min agreed with a nod, then had Donald Duck nod his head as well. She was still heavily embarrassed that her secret was out, but she trusted Henry not to run around telling people about it. Parker, though? Min-seo trusted Parker less but it was likely she was just as soon going to run around saying she was getting a bunk bed as she was saying she saw Min in a commercial. 

Regardless, Min-seo had a date to a party.[/indent]