[right][sub][color=lightgray]Two collabs with [@Lovely Complex]
[color=e88181][b]Stella[/b][/color] & [color=wheat][b]Lee[/b][/color], at night, after boat party
[color=a62241][b]Jasmine[/b][/color] & [color=olive][b]Hyde[/b][/color], the morning after, at school[/color][/sub][/right]
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[indent]The magic moment had extended far beyond that of their first meeting. A purple hue hung over them like a John Hughes movie from 1984: the princess and the hustler. They write fairy tales about this shit. Lee held her close, it felt natural like he had been doing it all his life. The opposite was true of course, the Wall Street baby had kept the world at an arm's length since before he could remember. Stella; she said her name was Stella. The lightness of her touch on his body sent electricity through his veins like a bolt of lightning, something new to replace the venom that had always been there.

There was a pain in his gut, akin to a stomach cramp. Most would put it down to some dodgy shrimp but the dog eyed ex football star knew better. The pain was reality check, a reminder of a simple fact of life; Lee McCarthy was not like most boys his age. He wasn’t like most boys at all. He wasn’t longed for this world, her world. He couldn’t let that stop him. Not this time. Now was the time to be greedy, just like daddy always said. Greed is good. Greed for love.

[color=e88181][b]“Do you ever think about, like, if something changed in your story, how life would be?”[/b][/color] Stella’s buzz had mellowed out, as both her and her newfound love interest walked to the exit of the boat. Maybe they could spend a little more time walking on the beach and listening to the gentle current… that would be wonderful, wouldn’t you think? 

[b][color=wheat]"All the time. There are a few things that have happened in my life that I’d probably wish were different”[/color][/b] His response was pretty standard by all means, however Lee of course swelled on the thought for a little bit longer. He thought on about how his life would be different if he didn’t have Huntington’s. He thought on how different his life would be if he had kept his focus on football or even if he hadn’t had bothered with athletics and stuck with academics.

Luna had texted her earlier saying arrangements were made for a family servant to pick her up, since Lu would be going home separately (that honestly came to Stella as a surprise). Stella, however, cancelled those arrangements so she could spend more time with Leighton. Truthfully, she was thankful and relieved for this sudden, unexpected freedom. True, blissful freedom, where she was in the seventh heaven with this mysterious boy she hardly knew that swooped her off her feet. This was her chance! To [i]finally[/i] get a boyfriend without her twin scaring them away! 

Did Stella think about anything passed this? Like how she was [i]actually[/i] getting home? Nope! Daddy knew she and Lu were okay, and enjoying themselves, and that was all that mattered. Honestly, her parents were probably happy that the twins were expanding from their beauty school friend group. [color=e88181][b]“I don’t know how I’d feel if I didn’t have my twin. Or my parents. Or my other family. I’m so very fortunate, but I do wonder if I listened to daddy and went to your school, instead of Beauty, how things would be. Would I like something that isn’t making people feel beautiful?”[/b][/color] Taking a moment to acknowledge the person by the door, Stel waved goodbye and brightly gleamed at the stranger, [color=e88181][b]“Tell Brian and his sisters they did an amazing job! Best party of the year.”[/b][/color] At least for her. Grabbing onto Lee’s arm, she let him lead the way. 

[b][color=wheat]"Let me tell you a little bit on how I personally see the world…”[/color][/b] Leighton covered her warm hand with his own as they descended into the moonlit beach. [b][color=wheat]"Life is pretty much a game of chance. We can’t predict what hand we’re going to be dealt. We can never know what the future holds and we shouldn’t regret the past. What’s done is done, all we can do is react and adapt. Right now, I would much prefer if you went to my school, that way I could see your beautiful face every damn day.”[/color] [/b]

His words caused a rewarding blush from his princess. For a moment, she looked away, embarrassed of the blooming colour on her cheeks. He made her feel tingly on the inside. This feeling was new, different, and unpredictable. It made her feel awkward and coy, yet she wanted him to say more pleasant things about her. She liked being this embarrassed. It felt like he could talk for hours and she’d never grow tired of him. One thing that would replay in her head for the rest of the night was him saying he wanted to see her beautiful face everyday. He said she was beautiful... he wanted her everyday… 

He walked her towards the water, it was a warm, wonderful night and he really didn’t want it to end any time soon. [b][color=wheat]"Life is a game, like I said. You just have to know how to play it and luckily for you, I’m very good at winning”[/color][/b] Leighton’s eyes never really left Stella’s face much at all, the Hollywood hustler was completely and utterly enamoured.[b] [color=wheat]"Chance is the best thing in the world, it’s unbiased, it’s fair and it led me to you tonight”[/color][/b]

[color=e88181][b]“Chance?”[/b][/color] Stella raised an eyebrow, intrigued by how he perceived life. It was different from how she saw it. Games came and went. They were fleeting to her. Honestly, if she saw life as game, she’d look at it in a different lense. She’d focus on the time spent with loved ones, not something to play to win. No one could predict tomorrow, so it was about making the most of today. 

Her attention went from his eyes to the sea. Her blonde strands gently moving with the wind. [color=e88181][b]“I see life more like the… ocean. Sometimes it’s like this. Calm, still, peaceful. Other times, it can be rough. Hard to bare. Both memorable though, because it’s our life! But in the end?”[/b][/color] She turned herself towards him, gliding her hands up his chest and around his neck, interlocking her fingers and holding onto him with dear love, [color=e88181][b]“Always beautiful.”[/b][/color] [i]Because of people like you, Lee.[/i]   

[b][color=wheat]"None of that beauty compares to you”[/color][/b] That magic moment had come again as her hands gently caressed his chest and neck. He wrapped one arm around her petite frame and the other became entangled in her silky blonde hair as he pulled the beauty school knockout into his embrace. As Stella’s lips met his, Lee felt a surge of electricity course through his body. Had he just been struck by a bolt of lightning? He pulled away slowly, noses grazing and a lingering gaze into those heartbreaking eyes.

[b][color=wheat]"You have to know, Stella. I’m the prince of nothing charming”[/color][/b]

[color=e88181][b]“Shuush.”[/b][/color] Lovingly and playfully, she rubbed her nose against his. Her gentle stare never wavering from his warm, light brown eyes,  [color=e88181][b]“Who says I want anything more?”[/b][/color] Stella couldn’t explain this feeling. She didn’t need him to sell her reasons to be with him, she didn’t need him to convince her his worth, she didn’t need him to be afraid to… be with her. She wanted him, he wanted her. Wasn’t that enough? 

To comfort him and remind him from this day onward, she was his, she went back for a kiss, held him tightly, possessively, so he wouldn’t pull away. Letting the kiss last longer than the one before, Stella allowed him to feel the warmth against his body, intentionally breaking all barriers. The kiss was intimate, nearly sexual, her mouth slightly ajared. His scent flooded her senses. They were like two puzzle pieces connecting. 

Love at first sight was real, at least for them. 

After what seemed like forever, this time, she pulled away and whispered, [color=e88181][b]“I want to spend the night with you.”[/b][/color]

[b][color=wheat]"That can be arranged”[/color][/b]

She was intoxicating. Lee wasn’t the biggest drug user in the world but kissing Stella was like a hit from the most addictive substance of them all, he wanted more, more than he could probably handle. He kissed her again, pulling her close as the light breeze blew around them, like nature’s whisper telling them what they were doing was right.

One cab ride later and Lee had brought his new love to the McCarthy house of wealth and horror. Best described in one word, Leightons home was sterile. Pristine white and perfectly polished metal stainless steel surfaces. It was more like a hospital than a home. Of course this was by design, Simon McCarthy hated mess, untidiness and general slobbishness like a dog hates a bath. Honestly, in a house like this, it made sense why people refer to Lee as the American Psycho.

[b][color=wheat]"This way”[/color][/b] Interlocking their fingers together, he lead her up the stairs quietly and into his bedroom. Lee’s room was as perfectly formed as the rest of the house, there was very little mess anywhere. Work out equipment in one corner, the dogs bed in the other. A desk and mirror with his grooming routine. Conspicuous by its presence however was a windowsill of medications. Lee placed himself as a door between Stella and that view, she didn’t need to see those just yet. He traced his finger down her arm, her skin shining like crystalline. His fingers moved to her toned stomach and his lips moved closer to hers. [b][color=wheat]"Are you sure?[/color][/b]

Focused on him and nothing but him, not once considering exploring his bedroom (yet) or his house (yet), she turned her body around and placed her blonde hair over her shoulders so that her dress zipper was visible to him. She didn’t say anything back. From this point on she’d let her body do the talking. If only Lee knew who she was the daughter of, who she was connected to. After this night, he would surely find out. It was only a matter of time. To claim a daughter of Bartimaeus Locke’s, a man of two families, especially one of his [i]pure[/i] ones... was binding. 

Fortunately for Lee, Stella had more lenient parents than her half siblings, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is still one of the virgins. The other being Cyndi Green.  Stella was a true maiden and princess. A bright, unfading star. Someone whose white has not been tainted. 

She was in love, for better or for worse. With a hustler. 

Not too different from her father, if you ask me. 

He did not say another word as he slipped her zipper down and gently dropped her crimson red dress from her shoulders. Lee ran his hands down her soft to fingertip arms as he lovingly kissed her necks. It would be at this point normally that he would take what he wanted but with Stella it was different, she was giving herself to him. He turned her and their lips met electric once again as she stripped him of his Versace armour.

The lovers made their way to the bed. The time for talking was done. The night was dark but full of love.

[i]Tell me why we’re talking when we dance so good[/i][/indent]
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[indent]The fire in his head was slowly dying. The night had been long and eventful. Hyde raised his hand up to touch the crusty dried blood on his face and he scratched some of the surface stain away. He had to get off that boat, being around all those filthy damn rich kids was making his damn blood boil. Fortunately for Hyde, as he departed the boat, he crossed paths with a few undesirables that he could vent some of his frustrations on. 

The dull ache in his torn up hands was fading with the rising sun that peered like a voyeur into his dimly lit life and home. Who needed sleep? Cameron Hyde certainly didn’t. Monster and violence was all he needed to keep him going. In the dark corner of the room where Hyde had situated himself, the only light to penetrate the darkness was the phone switching on to notify the dark passenger of an incoming message. He reached over to pick it up and read it. The night was dark and full of terrors, in this case so was the morning.

While the entirety of her school was on a boat for the majority of the night, the outspoken activist named after a flower spent her evening away working the snack stand at the local theater. The next morning she helped her mama make food for the army that was her [i]Cheaper by the Dozen[/i] family. Once she finished her morning chores, she dismissed herself earlier than usual, heading to school before everyone else would get there. They had a late start, after all. So really, she was going to school ‘on time’. 

Spending her night behind a stand gave her plenty of time to follow everyone’s snapchat stories, twitter pages, and Facebook statuses. After a night like that, she decided the school’s monthly charity bake sale was scheduled at a perfect time. 

What a coincidence. 

This was a time when everyone could use something sweet and delightful. Whether it was a celebration for new kindled romances, the biggest one going down the grapevine was Jamie and Marshall’s, or feel better sweets for heartbreak and crashing friendships. 

[quote]Did you see how Ophelia and Trixie were acting?[/quote]
[quote]What happened in the bathroom?! I saw Trixie leave before Ophelia... and then she almost threw herself off board! [/quote]
[quote]Nothing good comes from being Hailey's friend.[/quote]
[quote]Jamie is #thesavior and as a reward he got laid.[/quote]
[quote]GAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY[/quote]
[quote]Riley can get behind that. Ha.[/quote]
[quote]Yo, Riley went fucking nuts. Whatever he was on, give me some of that.[/quote]
[quote]He just needs the D.[/quote]
[quote]Joy gets the D. The Damian D.[/quote]
But the tag that gained the most likes and shares: 

[quote][b][color=ed1c24]HOTisDead.[/color][/b][/quote] 

Here [url=https://imgur.com/hFhQmZa]Jasmine Fulton[/url] was making sure she and those in Home Ec had prepared enough goodies yesterday. She who always ornamented her natural attributes with colors, in this case black, white, and pink, to emphasize the shading of her flesh. Jasmine was an understated beauty and her classmates labeled her since year one as a ‘bad girl’ because of the style she preferred. She was that stereotype, a rebel without a cause, like that boy Lucky was, but in this case, she was a slut too! Funny how that works, right? 

Sure, she showed skin, but that didn’t mean she screwed every guy she saw and even if she did, it was no one’s business but her own. She was proud of her body and she’d own it. Jasmine was not afraid to display the form that she worked hard to keep. The form that her mama gave her. No, she wasn’t a slut. No, she did not kick doors down like some anger ridden kid.  And no, she was not a girl that would play dumb to get in someone’s pants. She was just a sweet, little unforgettable thing and even if men specifically praised parts of her endlessly. Her legs, her ass, her neck, her breasts… that didn’t determine her worth. If anything, she was part of the movement of women empowerment.

As she did inventory of the sweets in and out the fridge, she smiled to herself. She loved this. And she would love seeing the satisfaction of her fellow colleagues’ faces when they tried any of these delectables. This was a visual representation of hard work and human emotions. Jolie had a crush for god who knows how long, so her cupcakes probably had a hint of desire, Nolan’s been having a hard time at home, so his cookies had a little escapism in them, and her cake… a loud gasp escaped the girl’s lips. Tugging at the ends of her pink highlighted hair, she looked at the giant hand mark in her CAKE. Sure, she made a bunch of other stuff too, but still! This cake was the one she was most proud about. She’d have to get to the bottom of this. They could’ve cut it at least… like a decent human being.      

Cameron arrived at Beverly Hills High School shortly before the first class of the day. He certainly wasn’t a student there, so sitting in the parking lot that was nicer than his house was really his only option.  His grip on the steering wheel tightened as his cold baby blues methodically scanned the influx of students entering the hallowed BHHS halls. He had a very specific job in mind and a very specific way to do it. Hyde glanced slightly over to his passenger seat and the hammer that sat there. He reached down and took hold of the tool. There, outside the Home EC window, Dylan Watson, he owed the wrong people a lot of money for drugs. It was time to collect. Cam hung the hammer from his belt and climbed out of his car. [b][color=olive]"WATSON! We need to have a confab my friend”[/color][/b]

After her moment of panic, Jasmine glanced up from the table and watched a scene unfold. She saw a boy cower in front of her as she squinted to see the angry figure coming closer, and closer, to the building. Before she got involved in something that may not be as bad as it seems, she decided to grab two eggs out the fridge, leave the room, and exit the side door. Making sure her steps were quiet, she went to the corner of the building and poked her head to get a better view of the boys. She wasn’t too sure what was going on… her mama told her to not be impulsive and intervene, unless she was 100 percent sure something bad was going to happen. 

Oh it was Dylan from woodshop. 

Hyde pinned the young man against the wall with one hand. He knew he was strong, very strong. The redness quickly forming around Dylan’s neck was an obvious tell. [b][color=olive]“I’m glad we finally ran into each other. You owe me for all that weed. You’ve owed me for about a month now. Do you have the money?”[/color][/b] the lack of sound coming from the kids mouth was enough to warrant a tighter squeeze from Hyde’s hand around his neck and a stronger grip on the hammer in his other hand. [b][color=olive]"Well then, guess I better take something as collateral. How about that nice Rolex you have on? And maybe...a few teeth”[/color][/b] Cameron raises his hammer up and as he prepared to bring it down, the unmistakable sound of a smashing egg punctured the red mist that had descended. He glanced at his arm which was now drenched in egg yolk. [b][color=olive]"What the fuck?[/color][/b]

[color=a62241][b]“Hey dumbass, look.”[/b][/color] She pointed to one of the few surveillance cameras planted around the school. [color=a62241][b]“You picked the perfect place to do business!”[/b][/color] She sarcastically cracked a smile, all the while bouncing the second egg in her hand. She took a step forward and gave him a challenging stare, [color=a62241][b]“You don’t go here, do you? If you did, you would know our zero tolerance policy. Doesn’t matter if it’s intentional or not, you get violent, you get punished.”[/b][/color] 

Glancing over to the victim then back to the dark passenger, she shrugged, [color=a62241][b]“That’s a nice car you have, with a very distinct license plate. Your looks are quite [i]definable[/i] too. I’m sure the police would have no trouble at all finding you.”[/b][/color] Unlike the general populace of her school, Jasmine was not rich and her looks gave off the vibe that she should be a kindred spirit to someone like Hyde, but she wasn’t. She chose to be better than the cards dealt to her. Fortunately for the victim in this situation, she had her brother’s number on speed dial. Her brother who was a cop. BUT, she didn’t think she needed to resort to that. 

Was she scared of him? No. A man to fear was someone who didn’t need a hammer and senseless threats. In her eyes, she was dealing with a child that rarely gets his way unless he screams for it. Jasmine had no time to deal with blood on her window, while she fixed her cake. She may be intruding but she wasn’t siding with the ‘victim’ either. She wasn’t dumb and knew he got involved in something he shouldn’t have, but she’d go against everything she stood for if she let this happen right here, right now, on school grounds.

Sex on legs was right. Hyde had to be smart here. He wasn’t a student, he wasn’t even meant to be anywhere near the premises and he was on candid camera. He knew her in passing, Jasmine Fulton. He didn’t know a lot, other than she liked to dress like a biker but from first glance he knew there was something more to her, what, he wasn’t yet sure but time would tell.

Hyde lunged forward and head butted Dylan straight in the nose and the blood began to pour. He reached into the boy’s jacket and pulled out his wallet, taking what little money was in there before turning to Jasmine. [b][color=olive]"This little prick owes me a lot of money. I’ll get it one way or another”[/color][/b] He took the money he had taken from Dylan’s wallet and shoved it down the front of her top. [b][color=olive]"For the damages”[/color][/b] He smiles and almost angelic smile as he pointed to his own temple. [b][color=olive]"We ain’t done”[/color][/b] He said looking at Dylan before returning his attention to the dark skinned beauty before him. [b][color=olive]"And me and you are just getting started”[/color][/b]

Her eyes said it all. She was extremely disinterested in him. Bored and thought what she was looking at was a complete joke. Jasmine didn’t have to say anything to give off the vibe that she could care less about this idiot. He simply needed to get off school grounds, because this school had enough going on. They didn’t need a thug like him to add to the already bad reputation of BHHS. [color=a62241][b]“You’re talking to me like I actually care about your business. I don’t.”[/b][/color] She took the money out of her cleavage and threw it on the ground in front of him, [color=a62241][b]“Treat yourself, [i]you[/i] need it more.”[/b][/color] Before he could respond, the school bell went off.

By pure dumb luck a car did park close to them with that DJ kid and his little sister, which was a good incentive to diffuse the situation, knowing Jax would foolishly intervene. [color=a62241][b]“I just wanted to thank you, though.”[/b][/color] She teasingly smiled and casually backed away, [color=a62241][b]“For really giving my boobs the attention they deserved.”[/b][/color] 

Unexpectedly, Dylan, bloody face and all, tossed Jasmine a wallet, Hyde’s wallet, which he had pickpocketed the moment Hyde turned his attention to the dangerous babe. She caught it with her free hand (the right one). [color=a62241][b]“I think this is a fair trade. A wallet for a wallet, hey? You shouldn’t underestimate the people you do business with. Isn’t that right, Dyl?”[/b][/color] The kid who was cowering moments before was already gone. 

With an impish smirk, she tossed the last egg for the bad boy to catch, mocking his words, but adding her own spin to it, [color=a62241][b]“For your ego.”[/b][/color] 

Before dismissing herself, [color=a62241][b]“I’ll see you later—”[/b][/color] She peered into his wallet and read outloud, [color=a62241][b]“—Cameron Hyde.”[/b][/color] and then turned on her heel, prancing off towards Jax and Honey, who were walking from their car to the side door she came out of, [color=a62241][b]“Hey guys, wait up!”[/b][/color] When the siblings turned their attention to the warm, melting chocolate voice, Honey cheesing and waving wildly, Jasmine tossed Hyde’s wallet into the trash and hooked her arms on both their arms. 

Not once did she have to get violent or even call her older brother. 

[color=03c03c][b]“Who’s that?”[/b][/color] Jax inquired, with concern written on his face.  

[color=a62241][b]“...a neighbor.”[/b][/color] Jasmine lied, knowing Jax would not be okay to hear she was involved with something violent.

[color=e52b50][b]“Jasmineeeeeeee. Today is the bake sale, right? I have a big, fat headache and think cake will help make it better!”[/b][/color] Honey whined, not liking how sick she felt.

[color=a62241][b]“I’ll make sure there’s plenty of cake just for you.”[/b][/color] Jasmine sweetly answered, forgetting Hyde just as fast as she met him. 

Really, though, only she would’ve known Dylan knew how to pickpocket. Why you ask? Because she taught him. She [i]sucked[/i] at woodshop. It was only a [i]fair trade[/i]. 


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