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[sub][color=dimgray]Starring [color=426f6f][b]Riley Wells[/b][/color] & [color=6495ed][b]Brynn Payne[/b][/color], with ft. guest [color=0589bc][b]Brian Helmsley[/b][/color]
Collab with [@melissahart] & [@Universorum][/color][/sub]

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[/center][hr][hr][indent]Another day, another change to Riley Wells’ morning show. Rise! Something that didn’t even exist before Riley came into the picture. Three years ago. You know what they use to showcase in the morning? The Vice Principal’s extremely caked face while she boringly read a script of [i]exciting[/i] school events and news. Mrs. White tried to be hip with her jokes and stay relevant by bringing up celebrity news she read out of the Gemma Clark mags — the Weekend Warrior of the world. She tried, but none of the kids really cared what was on the homeroom screen unless the celebrities involved people they actually knew. Now at least kids take the time to watch the screen, regardless of how informative an episode actually is. 

Riley wasn’t going to let other people make him feel like his work was for not, but he would be professional. He would be open to ideas. He would be open to [i]change[/i]. Daily special guests wasn’t a bad idea. If anything, [i]The (Normans’) Morning Show: Rise[/i] could only move forward from here on out. But first, he would break the ice in the way his dad, Remy, would do. Food. He was holding Brynn’s [i]freshly brewed[/i] coffee, with no add ins, and a box of donuts. Beside him, walked one of the big faces at this school, Brian Helmsley. After texting both Brynn and Brian separately early this morning, he discovered Brynn likes black and bitter coffee, and Brian likes pricey mineral water. Luckily, his dad Wells also liked water of the same calibur. 

They were almost at their destination. The [url=https://imgur.com/VCgF74q]basement[/url] of the auditorium. The place Riley hosts TV & Broadcasting club meetings. Today’s episode, Riley made a firm decision to keep it here. Yesterday’s episode was a bit… much. Stationary and classy was his goal for today’s show. A good break from the drama that transpired with Mrs. Green and Mrs. O’Connor appearing out of the blue. [color=426f6f][b]“... if you don’t mind me asking, Brian, what brought you back?”[/b][/color] Riley had an idea, but he didn’t want to assume. Assumptions got him in messes, even though he wasn’t the one assuming in a particular closet incident.

Brian looked over at Riley and shook his head. He [i]did[/i] mind Riley asking, but he figured he could at least give a half truth. It was okay, if he didn’t give away his intentions, ideas, feelings, and everything in one go. That was what half truths were for. He took a sip from his water, and responded. [color=0598bc][b]“Drama came up. I don’t like drama, really? Especially when it involves people that I care about. So, I wanted to be here to support my friends.”[/b][/color] He explained. Pausing at the entryway, Brian turned to face Riley fully, [color=0598bc][b]“I really appreciate you letting me be a guest on your show. I’ll do a quick opening at the beginning of the show, then I can back out of your hair. I don’t want to overstep my bounds.”[/b][/color]

[color=426f6f][b]“Oh no, don’t worry. I was in a mood, yesterday. I’m better. I think you coming back with your sisters is the most noteworthy thing that’s happened since the last show. And usually my best segments cover stuff like that. We can talk more later, but I’d like you to stay through the entirety of this segment. If you just jumped out, I think we’d lose their attention.”[/b][/color] Shrugging to himself, Riley gestured with his head for the Helmsley boy to open the door, please. His hands were full.  

With that, Brian put his hand on the doorknob and turned it, pushing the door open to reveal… Brynn, crying on a couch? Brian had no interest in dealing with this. He pushed Riley forward slightly, flicking his head toward the sobbing girl; his way of saying: Handle this.

Oh. Okay. Emotional, probably hormonal girl. Yeah, Riley could handle this. If he could stop Marshall from crying, he could definitely stop his co-host he just recently had close interactions with stop too. Clearing his throat, to announce the arrival of him and Brian, Riley cautiously approached the girl, with an offering of coffee and donuts, [color=426f6f][b]“...you good?”[/b][/color]  

The brunette had been wallowing in her own self pity for the past 10 minutes, upset and emotionally exhausted. She didn’t hear anyone coming, but Brynn’s face went absolutely stark white when the door opened and revealed her co-host and... Brian Helmsley? Wiping away her tears as fast as she could, she stood up, brushing herself off both physically and mentally. [color=6495ed][b]“Who’s crying, no ones crying, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”[/b][/color] Brynn rationalized, trying to distract from her tear stains. She saw the coffee in Riley’s hand and reached out to take it from him. [color=6495ed][b]“Thanks.”[/b][/color]

After making sure Brian was out of earshot, which honestly seemed like his goal while Riley dealt with this, Riley gave her the black coffee and a genuine smile, that contrasted how he was yesterday, as he whispered,  [color=426f6f][b]“Want to talk about it later? You don’t have to, but the offer is on the table. Sometimes it’s nice to let it all out and if you need a ‘me’ day, that’s fine too. Brian is actually going to take over half of the show to make an announcement.”[/b][/color] Coming from someone who was piss poor at talking about things with his family, hey, maybe Brynn needed a third party that wasn’t directly involved in her life. It was that or the option of therapy! 

Brynn was a little taken back by the difference in Riley’s actions from yesterday’s show. She gave him an appreciative smile, [color=6495ed][b]“It’s nothing, but thanks.”[/b][/color] She’d figure this out in all due time, and would probably just discuss things with Sean himself later. [color=6495ed][b]“What kind of announcement is he making? I saw all the flyers around school…”[/b][/color] 

Opening the donut container, Riley pulled out a chocolate frosted glazed donut and glanced over to Brian, [color=426f6f][b]“I imagine it’ll cover that. And more. I’m not fully sure what he’ll drop on our school. Today, I’ve decided to just go with the flow.”[/b][/color] Lifting the container up, the aspiring TV personal offered, [color=426f6f][b]“Donut? It’s homemade.”[/b][/color] There was an assortment of 10 donuts, a lot, but like, Riley wasn’t going to waste this opportunity to utilize his dad’s baking skills.  

Meanwhile, Brian was looking around at the room, sipping at his water. He walked over to the painting of the school hanging on the wall and absentmindedly tapped it, before wandering to the mural of the microphone, taking what seemed to be an incredibly deep look at it while he took a drink of his water. He looked at the long line of stools, and raised an eyebrow, before he turned around fully to look at Riley and Brynn, one hand in his pocket.

[color=0589bc][b]“With a few basic changes, I think I could really make this place work.”[/b][/color]

[color=426f6f][b]“Work for…?”[/b][/color] Riley’s gaze went from Brynn to Brian. 

[color=0589bc][b]“You told me you wanted me to be full time, right? Then I might have some suggestions to make.”[/b][/color] Brian explained, taking a seat on one of the stools. [color=0589bc][b]“There are three of us. There were two of you. Before that, there was only one. Why do you have so many stools? The painting should be green screen, and whoever’s running the live stream should put up… something relevant to the show in its place. We can do pre-recorded interviews and put them there, or live stream them to that. Also, this is just me, but I think the mural is… a little much. It should be simpler. But first step…”[/b][/color] Brian stood up, and kicked over eight of the stools, leaving three standing.

[color=0589bc][b]“Get rid of the stools. And the tables, we don’t need the tables. Actually…”[/b][/color] Brian knocked the last three stools down as well. [color=0589bc][b]“Screw the whole thing. Get a desk and some comfortable chairs. Ergonomic. Brynn has a figure to keep in mind.”[/b][/color] Brian sipped his water, and snapped his fingers. Wasn’t there help around here somewhere?

[color=426f6f][b]“Eh-hem.”[/b][/color] Riley closed the donut container and walked to one of the tables that Brian wanted to be removed, stepping over a fallen stool. [color=426f6f][b]“This section doesn’t actually get on camera. It’s for meetings where the team brain storms next week’s episodes. By team, I mean me and usually the three people in the control room. We’re a small club. Also all this, was freshmen Riley’s brain. I mean, I could talk to Trixie… about the budget… but we’re very limited and this is our only space. The fact that I even got a show to display on every homeroom tv at a specific time is a fucking miracle. This club was only radio before I came.”[/b][/color] Yeah, Riley was getting defensive. He was open to change but this guy was basically saying all his hard work was fucking shit. That’s not how you go about moving something, his creation, into a positive direction. Forward. His ‘suggestions’, although they were good, were more demands. That made him grumpy. 

[color=0589bc][b]“Budget?”[/b][/color] Brian stared at Riley as if he were incredibly injured. [color=0589bc][b]“Riley, I’ll bankroll it. There’s no rule against donations. And, that’s great and all. You did good, but you’re not a freshman anymore. You have the rest of this year and then next year to set the stage for whoever comes after you. Don’t leave them with outdated stuff, that’s all I’m saying. You can do better. [i]We[/i] can do better. This space is perfect. It needs a couple of hardcams, and like I said, a few changes… but the stools and the tables have got to go, man. Look, I offered to leave. You said stay. I’ll stay, but my terms and conditions are as follows: we upgrade the place. I’m not busy after school, you and I will go see what we can find in the hardware store. I don’t think we’ll find any useful A/V equipment unless we go to like, Microcenter, but that’s okay. Mom and Dad might have some stuff lying around… I’m not trying to offend you and you shouldn’t take it that way, or get all defensive with me. I’m just saying. Why don’t we make it better? You were a small club. You might still be small, but now you’re small with me here. And I [i]won’t[/i] be a big fish in a small pond.”[/b][/color]

Brian sipped at the water again, and found that he was now out. Scowling at the bottle, he looked at Rye and spoke in a very serious tone: [color=0589bc][b]“If I have to, I will rebuild this pond with my own hands to make it as big as the Pacific ocean.”[/b][/color]

Man, this guy was intense. Riley furrowed his brows, considering the man’s words. He was a good talker. Riley would give him that. Insistent, annoying, but Rye knew when to stop and recognize when someone was better at something than him. In this case. Brian was better at business. Riley was no businessman. The three in the backroom weren’t business people either. If anything, they goofed off more than they actually helped. If they knew how to diffuse fires, yesterday’s episode wouldn’t have gotten as far as it did. And Brynn? Riley didn’t know enough about her. What he did know was she’s a pretty face, works the camera like a goddess, absolutely flawless, and was surprisingly clever. The wit he liked the most. He would never admit that he was impressed with her performance from yesterday. At least not anytime soon. 

Riley hardly knew this kid and he had so much to say. This was one hell of a ice breaker. [color=426f6f][b]“I [i]guess[/i] you’re right. But I have some terms and conditions myself before I agree with upgrading. I want this, whatever this is.”[/b][/color] He gestured to all three of them. [color=426f6f][b]“To feel like a team. You two are some of the most popular kids at this school. Where does that leave me? The creator of the morning show? Probably in the shadows. I don’t want the politics that run through these halls to influence how we treat each other. We are equals. I don’t care who your parents are and you shouldn’t care about mine. In these walls, we are just us. The moment I start feeling like my voice doesn’t matter, I will cut the plug. So, treat me with respect and I’ll do the same. Deal? You too, Brynn.”[/b][/color] Riley turned his head toward her. 

An oath. All three of them walked with different people in the halls. Talked to different people during lunch. They were different people, but Riley didn’t want their differences to run the show. He wanted their similarities to bring them together. To bring the school together. They were three teens that had their own goals and aspirations. Their own issues. Aside from that? Nothing else mattered.  

[color=0589bc][b]“You’re weird.”[/b][/color]

Brian sat the empty water bottle down and folded his arms over his chest. Had Riley lost his mind? He was wildly overthinking this whole thing. Brian had only wanted to come on, talk about the party, and move on with his life. Now it was becoming some big thing? He himself didn’t care about the politics of the school, and he didn’t even feel he was [i]that[/i] popular. [color=0589bc][b]“I mean you can make the demands you want, and I’ll agree to them, but nothing’s even happened yet. Except I knocked down a couple of stools.”[/b][/color]

Brynn was definitely shocked with Brian’s actions. Sure, he was Brian Helmsley, BHHS kissed the ground that his family walked on, but that didn’t mean he could just come in here and change every single thing that Riley had worked hard to make. Yesterday, she wouldn’t have given a glance to this ordeal, but with the kindness that Riley had shown her, plus after noticing how hard he had worked, she didn’t want to let Brian walk all over him. [color=6495ed][b]“You know that I’m in, Riley. We already talked about how I’m just regular Brynn in this room. Brian, I suggest you leave your shit outside if you’re gonna come in here.”[/b][/color] The brunette turned to the two boys, taking a long sip of her coffee. This morning had already been an emotional rollercoaster, and she didn’t need this on top of it. 

Brian snapped the gum in his mouth and stared at the two people in front of him. Nah, son. He stood up each of the stools back onto their feet, before he sat the empty cup onto one of the tables, and looked at Riley, holding out his hand to shake, with a smile on his face. [color=0589bc][b]“Thank you for your time, but I think I don’t want to do this after all. You’re welcome to use some of my ideas, however you see fit. Good luck, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. I thought this would go some other way. I appreciate the offer for a permanent position, and I appreciate your willingness to let me have a spot on this show.”[/b][/color]

At this point, Riley was only one thing. Confused. Brian went out of his way to contact him to do this and now he’s bailing? Maybe he wasn’t that good of a businessman after all. Riley didn’t know what he thought. He hardly knew both of these people but there was something about these sporadic moments that actually felt like it was helping in some way. Helping him talk to people. [color=426f6f][b]“Okay, everyone. Chill. It’s far too last minute for you to not do at least today’s show, Brian. You went out of your way to talk to me, so what you want to do must be important. You care about something enough to do this, right? I don’t want you to give up on that.”[/b][/color] Riley, scratching his head in thought, made his way to the other boy, [color=426f6f][b]“I’ll trust you, okay? I can’t speak for Brynn, but I can speak for myself. This is… a lot to digest in one sitting. If you don’t want to stay, that’s all on you. I can’t stop you, but can I still go to you as, I don’t know, a consultant? My brother likes you and you’re really good at this, so I wouldn’t mind doing something like that…”[/b][/color] His dad always told him that sometimes it’s okay to put your stubbornness aside, your guard down, and your pride away, when opportunity knocks at your door. 

Brian and Brynn were opportunity. 

In many ways, the Helmsley boy was right. When Riley was gone, who would take over? When Riley was gone, what would be left behind? When Riley was gone, would the show even exist anymore? He needed to consider these things. It simply took an acquaintance to realize all this.   

Riley did have his hand out but he didn’t reach for Brian’s hand yet. In all honesty, his eyes were hopeful. Riley didn’t know how much Brian knew about him, but if Trevor did talk about him to his friend, Brian would know that being ‘socially awkward’ was part of Rye’s charm. 

Brian supposed that Riley had a point. He could at least do the segment he’d signed up for. [color=0589bc][b]“Alright. I can do the segment that I said I would. As for the consulting thing… I don’t know. I’ll think about it. If I’m going to do anything down here, I need to make a phone call.”[/b][/color] But the truth was? Brian wasn’t sure he wanted to spend his time working on this. It seemed both people had heavy misunderstandings about him, and he wasn’t interested in getting past that. Brian was mission focused, and his mission didn’t involved Riley’s show, not really. [color=0589bc][b]“When do we get started, anyway?”[/b][/color][/indent]
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[indent]And so the show came and went, with Riley and Brynn displaying better chemistry than the previous day. Perhaps they could work well together, with a little more understanding of one another. They primarily focused their segment on the Sadie Hawkin’s Dance, putting great emphasis on what makes this dance different: [b]the girl asks the boy out[/b]. Cue jokes on gender equality, sexism, young love, and staying sane during this semester by bad dancing, ‘interesting’ chaperones, and one-of-a-kind punch (not like it gets spiked or anything). But the highlight of the show was when Riley let Brian Helmsley take it away. It was an executive decision to end it with whatever Brian had to say, because Riley knew after that boy talked, no one would care about the rest. Why would they? There was a party on a boat happening and people had to be there. The hype would be [i]real[/i].

[center][i]Brian Helmsley’s piece on The Morning Show[/i][/center]
Brian stood front and center on the camera’s line of sight, and held eye contact with it, as if he were staring at whoever was on the other end. [color=0589bc][b]“Hi, I’m Brian Helmsley. I’m here on the show this morning to make something of an announcement. I’m sure all of you have seen the flyers on the walls, and yes. It’s true, we’re throwing a party on our first night back. But don’t thank me, or Bailee, or even fully Becca. Damian’s the cohost, so thank him. I know what you’re thinking: a party this soon after the catastrophe of the last one? I don’t know [i]why[/i] he’s doing it, but he said screw it, let’s do it.”[/b][/color] Brian shrugged his shoulders at the camera, and there was a brief pause as he let everyone digest it — Damian was a truly mad lad — before he kept talking. [color=0589bc][b]“I want you to know that everyone watching this is invited, and encouraged to come. If you thought Damian’s beach party was crazy, well you have my personal assurance that this is going to be even better.”[/b][/color] Brian leaned closer to the camera, and smiled.

[color=0589bc][b]“I’d especially love it if everyone’s best friend, the Weekend Warrior, showed up. I hope you’re watching, because please. Come to the party.”[/b][/color] The smile grew a little bit more, flashing perfectly straight and white teeth. [color=0589bc][b]“We’ll get together. Have a few laughs.”[/b][/color] Brian winked at the camera. It was a dare. It was a challenge. It would surely be accepted.

He straightened back up, and finished off. [color=0589bc][b]“Boat leaves at 8:45 [i]tonight[/i]. Don’t be late. Thank you for your time, and have a beautiful rest of your day. If you have any questions about the party, find myself, one of my sisters, or Damian and we’ll fill you in on the details. See you there.”[/b][/color]

Brynn raised an eyebrow at Brian’s little monologue. Another party? Hosted by the Helmsley's [i]and[/i] Damian? This was sure going to be interesting. She looked over to Riley, searching for some type of guidance on how to handle this, but then just decided to fuck it and respond on a whim. [color=6495ed][b]“Thank you, Brian, for coming on the show this morning.”[/b][/color] Not wanting to get into trouble with the administration [i]or[/i] her cohost, she followed up with a brief disclaimer for the audience. [color=6495ed][b]“Please remember that if you do decide to partake in tonight’s...events, make good choices and don’t have [i]too[/i] much fun. After all, tomorrow is still a school day!”[/b][/color] The words tasted so sour in her mouth. Since when was she the poster child for good decisions?

At this point, nothing could surprise Riley. Brian announcing a party, after yesterday’s incident, and also challenging the largest radical that walked this school, and Brynn simmering down the reality of the situation. Another party. Bigger, better, and most definitely badder. But what was administrators going to do? Take their students’ rights away to enjoy themselves outside of school hours? Potentially losing an exceptional amount of funding from the people that keep this school growing and thriving. Yeah, right. Punishments would happen after the storm. For now, it was the calm before the storm. [color=426f6f][b]“Look at Damian go. Keeping the Norman community together! A celebration of the new semester, which will be the best one yet. What’s our motto? ‘Today Well Lived’. So Beverly Hills High, keep living. Make memories. And don’t stop being you. Here’s to the New Year! I’m Riley Wells, this is my brilliant co-host Brynn Payne, and our star guest, Brian Helmsley. Thanks for watching.”[/b][/color]

End of segment. 
[/indent]