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[sub][color=slategray]A [@Silent Observer] & [@smarty0114] Collab
Featuring: [color=31ba9f]Jamie “I Need A Drink” Callaghan[/color] and [color=ffb5fd]Selena “He’s Nobody” Sterling[/color] with special guest appearances by [color=7fc19e]Kit “Hamster Without a Leash” Thomas[/color] and [color=f6c142]Connor “Fine as Wine” Prince[/color]
Location: The Party[/color][/sub][/center][hr][hr]

[indent]Jamie was perched near the bar, a martini in one hand, a glass of champagne in the other. As much as Jamie liked a good party, he didn’t feel the need to be completely plastered when he tried to win Marshall back. He’d skipped his normal drink for the champagne and decided that if by night’s end everything had gone according to plan then he’d treat himself, and have a real good cocktail. 

He saw Selena approaching the bar through the crowd of people, her silvery blonde hair hard to miss. He locked eyes with her and grinned, raising her martini to signal her over. [color=31ba9f][b]“Welcome to the circus. Over there is Becca Helmsley, dancing sluttier than normal, if you can believe it. The rest of our friends have yet to arrive, so you haven’t missed too much,”[/b][/color] he noted, handing her the glass, and keeping his eyes trained on the dance floor, hoping to catch a glimpse of one partygoer in particular.

Honestly, what was Sean thinking? What kind of character did he assume that his sister had these days? Of course she wasn’t going to [i]go home with someone else[/i]. She wasn’t some slag. She was… probably unloveable. Definitely a virgin. And she was totally shook by his assumption. Selena decided that she needed that martini now more than ever. Making her way through the crowd of high schoolers — some of them stepping out of the way to give her a wide berth, as if she were some kind of plague  — Sel arrived at the bar.

Her blue eyes followed Jamie’s gaze to Becca going all out on the dance floor. Yikes, apparently not much had changed since the last time the Helmsley’s were home. Sel sipped on the drink her best friend had handed her. It was perfectly dry, and very high quality, as she would expect from the Helmsley’s stock of alcohol. [color=ffb5fd][b]“It’s like watching one of those nature documentaries where the animals do elaborate mating dances. Yet, far more primitive… and even less classy.”[/b][/color] She took another judgemental sip of her martini.

[color=31ba9f][b]“I’ll give them one thing. The Helmsley’s sure as hell know how to get people drunk,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, taking another sip of his champagne and turning to face Selena. [color=31ba9f][b]“What’s up? You seem...off,”[/b][/color] Jamie inquired. He’d known Selena for a while now, and as excellent as she was at hiding her feelings, every now and then Jamie caught hold of something genuine. Tonight was one of those times.

Ahh, so her party face had failed. That was… unfortunate, but Sel had expected that given the conversation and events that transpired prior to her arrival. Selena sighed and took another big sip of her drink. Swallowing down the pleasant burn, she put on her best stunning Selena smile. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Perceptive… I do hope that it’s Jamie asking, and not Rita.”[/b][/color] Sel teased and arched an eyebrow up at her journalist friend. She knew him well enough to know that sometimes he couldn’t turn that off, and she didn’t really feel like being interviewed right now. [color=ffb5fd][b]“The same could be said for you. Champagne tonight? That’s unusual.”[/b][/color]

Jamie grinned. She knew him too well sometimes. He took another sip of the champagne, holding it in his mouth for a moment before swallowing, savoring the taste. [color=31ba9f][b]“I’m sure you saw the video from this morning of me and my oh-so-wonderful ex-boyfriend,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, rolling his eyes at the mention of AJ. [color=31ba9f][b]“I need to win Marshall back tonight. Well, if it’s possible. I don’t suppose you’ve seen him?”[/b][/color]

[color=ffb5fd][b]“Yes, I saw the video and I was not happy about it. AJ’s grossly slimy, and you deserve better. I thought you were over that phase.”[/b][/color] Selena crossed her ankles as she stood and leaned back against the bar as they chatted. This wasn’t so bad, talking with Jamie made parties a bit more entertaining. It was becoming quite obvious that he intended to be spending his time with other people tonight… and she… she really couldn’t blame him there. [color=ffb5fd][b]“I haven’t seen him, unfortunately. He kind of… ditched school and didn’t show for the rest of day. I heard he left with some pretty girls on his arm. Here’s hoping that little kiss incident didn’t turn him straight.”[/b][/color] As if that was possible.

Jamie sighed, leaning his head back for a moment to look up at the starry night sky. [color=31ba9f][b]“What are the chances we swear off men all together and run away somewhere glamorous? I hear Paris is nice this time of year,”[/b][/color] he said, finishing off what was left of his drink and setting it down on the bar behind him. [color=31ba9f][b]“On a lighter note, can we take a second to discuss the new arrivals in homeroom today? That freshman that Cassie and Ophelia adopted? A menace! And since when are Hana Park and Hailey a thing? I mean, why on earth would she want to be friends with any of us? We suck!”[/b][/color] Jamie said with a laugh. The champagne had calmed his nerves and loosened his lips. Maybe this party wouldn’t be the worst event of the year.

[color=ffb5fd][b]“Paris is great any time of the year. I’ve really been meaning to cross Ibiza off my bucket list, though. Say the word, and I’ll plan us a getaway whenever you want, my dear.”[/b][/color] It had been a while since she’d gone on a vacation. She could use one, and she certainly had enough money to afford to go wherever she wanted. When Jamie brought up the newcomers, Selena’s eyes widened. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Oh my goshhh, tell me about it. Kit is one of the newest members of our cheer squad, and my god, she never shuts up. Hana is also a new member… though… she didn’t really try out or anything. Maybe Hailey’s really good in bed? I have no idea how that happened, honestly. And—”[/b][/color] Sel gave him a sassy glare that was more playful than it was vicious. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Speak for yourself. I never suck.”[/b][/color] Sel smirked and tapped her pointer finger against the base of the glass in her hand.

Jamie shook his head, smirking. [color=31ba9f][b]“Oh, well excuuuuse me,”[/b][/color] he said, chuckling and looking out over the crowd. [color=31ba9f][b]“Sel, who’s that?”[/b][/color] Jamie asked, nodding his head towards a boy, tall, and rugged, a ruffian if you will, that was very clearly checking out Selena.

Selena once again followed her friend’s gaze into the crowd. Her eyes found a boy. No… a man. The mysterious one she spoke with yesterday. They locked eyes for a moment before Selena looked away towards Jamie. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Prince. Er, Connor Prince. I met him after tryouts yesterday, he’s new in town. Is he… is he still staring?”[/b][/color] Sel asked, her cheeks turned just the faintest shade of pink. 

Jamie looked up at the boy, who was alternating between looking away and looking back at the duo. Once he noticed Jamie watching, he quickly looked away. [color=31ba9f][b]“Not anymore. So, who is this mystery man? He’s fine as wine,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, smirking and looking back to Selena, intrigued by this possible new development.

[color=ffb5fd][b]“He’s no one.”[/b][/color] Selena responded quickly. He wasn’t, really, right? She’d hardly talked with him. If anything, he’d just pissed her off by calling her pet names without even the slightest modicum of respect. [color=ffb5fd][b]“I made him carry chairs for me. And he kept calling me [i]blondie[/i]. Ugh. I’m sure he’d do the same for you, if you think he’s so fine as wine… have at it. I thought you were all about winning someone else over tonight, though.”[/b][/color] Sel gestured her chin towards the dance floor, where Trixy and Marshall were currently drawing the attention of more than a few sets of eyes. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Speaking of…”[/b][/color]

Jamie smirked. [color=31ba9f][b]“I can still window shop,”[/b][/color] he said, before following Sel’s gaze to one Marshall Radley, putting years of dance classes to good work. Jamie’s jaw clenched, a clear effort on his part at trying not to show a reaction. He looked to Trixie and rolled his eyes. [color=31ba9f][b]“Trixie has a habit of ending up in the exact positions I want to be in,”[/b][/color] he said, before turning to the bartender and signaling for another, much needed glass. He had window shopped and found the only item worth purchasing having a very good time without his company. [color=31ba9f][b]“I need a distraction, stat.”[/b][/color]

Luckily, a distraction came in the form of the very thing both Selena and Jamie had come to hate. Coming straight from the crowd, and approaching the pair without a care in the world, Kit Thomas stepped up to Selena. She tapped the slightly taller girl on the shoulder, and when she had Selena’s attention, she grabbed onto the back of Sel’s head and pulled her down so that their lips met.

Given that Kit was trying to decide whether or not Selena Sterling was [i]the one[/i] or not, the kiss was surely something. It wasn’t a quick peck on the lips — it was a [i]kiss[/i]. Once Kit was satisfied, she broke away and looked at Selena with pure, visible disappointment on her face. She shook it off after a second, [color=7fc19e][b]“Ehhhhh… not for me.”[/b][/color] Then, Kit disappeared back into the throngs of people, off on another adventure.

[color=ffb5fd][b]“What the [i]fuck[/i]?!”[/b][/color] Selena was stunned in place. What just happened? Who did that little freshman think she was? Sel’s cheeks flushed red, not with embarrassment, but with rage. The usually well-put-together blonde uncharacteristically slammed her glass down on the bar counter and actually wiped at her lips with her now-free hand. As if she could erase the kiss that way. [color=ffb5fd][b]“What was that? Jamie? Did that just happen? I’m…”[/b][/color]

Jamie stood, paralyzed by shock. Did that [i]really[/i] just happen? It must’ve. They couldn’t have had the same hallucination, could they? And did Selena just curse? She [i]never[/i] cursed. Kit would be lucky if she made it to tomorrow night. [color=31ba9f][b]“Ophelia and Cassie need to leash their hamster,”[/b][/color]

[color=ffb5fd][b]“I’ll…”[/b][/color] Selena sputtered, overcome with a mixture of emotions. She’d only kissed one other person before, and it was her choice then. Kit just came and… she quite literally [i]stole[/i] a kiss. Selena was pissed. No one gets to take a Sterling’s choice away. No one. Especially not mouthy little freshman. [color=ffb5fd][b]“I’ll end her. That was assault! She’ll be lucky if the least I do is get her kicked off the squad, and out of our table, for that.”[/b][/color] Selena seethed before turning to request another drink from the bartender.

Jamie nodded. [color=31ba9f][b]“She brought it on herself. Ophelia really needs to revamp her recruitment process if that’s the kind of rabble they’re bringing in now days,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, taking a sip from his new glass of champagne. [color=31ba9f][b]“It may be worth noting that Mr. Prince, also known as, ‘No One’”[/b][/color] Jamie began, using rather emphatic air quotes before continuing, [color=31ba9f][b]“is rather amused by that whole little fiasco.”[/b][/color] Jamie gestured across the deck at Connor, still alone, but now clearly amused, a big grin on his face, shaking his head in disbelief.

This time, Selena did not follow Jamie’s gaze. She wasn’t going to look back over at Connor. Nope, absolutely not. She felt… embarrassed? That was a new emotion for the silver princess, and she did not like it. Her teeth were ground tight together and she did her best to keep her expression even. [color=ffb5fd][b]“I’m not amused. That wasn’t amusing. Who does he think is— and [i]why[/i] did you just use air quotes at me, Jamie?”[/b][/color] Sel felt suddenly attacked, by the one person she thought she could trust on this boat. Honestly, first her brother, and now Jamie too?

Jamie smirked at his best friend, taking another sip of his drink. [color=31ba9f][b]“Selena Sterling, you may be very smart, and an excellent liar, but I know something when I see it. And that staring was something,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, before looking back to see Connor moving through the crowd. Jamie, turned back to Selena. [color=31ba9f][b]“Now, don’t panic, but he’s coming over now, so act natural. And don’t get pregnant. The world doesn’t need more Scorpios,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, before giving Selena a thumbs up, and disappearing into the crowd. [color=31ba9f][i]She’ll thank me one day.[/i][/color]

Selena gaped as her bestie walked away. Was he [i]serious[/i]? He was just going to tell her not to get pregnant and then abandon her here — as if she would ever be that stupid. She didn’t have enough time to fully react to that, because if what Jamie said was true, Connor was coming over here, to where she was standing, and there was very little she could do to stop it. Selena did the only thing that she could think to do, she took a huge gulp of her second martini, and prepared for the worst.[/indent]