[color=ccb6ad][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3Blh8wv.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/vgj7RG0.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/7wagcjs.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/SMn28bf.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Gm6u9Ll.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/qUk7VdG.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/5OP36Bq.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Oa9cRrX.png[/img] [sub]A Collaboration between [@Altered Tundra] & [@Hero] featuring: The Drakes and [color=deepskyblue]Victoire Bailey[/color][/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Oz7dvD0.png[/img] [/center][indent][indent] The past week went on as if it was a blur. The days happened to blend in with each other, homework, tests, surprise quizzes, going to the beach and surfing while also balancing in an increased friendship with, of all people, Julie. Amid everything, Sonny found talking to her was actually not a bad thing. In fact, while Sonny was hesitant at first, there was something about her that made Sonny feel a little good about himself. They had nothing to balls in common and maybe that was a good thing. And she didn’t seem to be interested in him like some might be, which he found to be a good thing. At the very least, they were getting along and he didn’t have to worry about getting the wrath of Chanel on his back, so that was good too. Everything else aside, Sonny could be honest and say that the week went by a lot more quickly than he thought it would. In addition to everything else, he also became a little more friendly with Nadia. Talks here and there about homecoming, about the hard exams they had for the two classes they had together, and generally about how the dance was like a prison sentence ...well, Sonny was the one who brought it up. As he recalled, she just laughed and didn’t make any specific comment about it. In all honesty, Sonny never expected himself to become as friendly with Nadia in the week they’ve met up for coffee, for study dates, and in overall, they just hung out and got to know each other more. By the time Friday came and it was time for Sonny to endure the last day before he took that perp walk, he had really found himself to be a bit of a friendly flirt with her. It was all fun and games, of course, but there was no denying it was playful on his part. He was naturally a confident, arrogant flirt, but surprisingly harmless - at least, that’s what Sonny believes. If Nadia took it another way, then that was just something else he could laugh at and tease her for. Throughout the final hours leading to when Sonny arrived at the home of the three siblings (Nadia was one of them), Sonny did everything he could not to really care about getting ready. Of course, thanks to both of his parents who hounded him to get ready and not make an embarrassment of the family, he was forced to actually shower and eat and be ready before he ever planned to be ready. Before five, Sonny was full of enough fuel to last him throughout the night, his hair was groomed and combed back to his own satisfaction, and his [url=https://i.imgur.com/Dq3ZHlS.jpg]suit with red tie and handkerchief[/url] that made him look like a poor excuse for a wiseguy. Odd of course because he wasn’t even part Italian. [color=crimson]“Look at my boy. All groomed up and ready to slay,”[/color] Jackson said, getting a good look at his son as he came down the stairs. Sonny just rolled his eyes, hands in his pockets. Thankfully, only his parents were there. He got a text message from Stella and she said most of her entire family was there. He’d die if his sister had dropped everything from New York and decided to show up. He was lucky that she was too swamped with exams to make an attempt to embarrass him further. [color=darkorange]“Let’s not make a big deal about this. It’s just a dance. And it’s not like me and Nadia are going to be dating or anything. We were forced into this,”[/color] Sonny clarified once again for the million-and-second time to them. They were ready to make a big deal about it when he first told them and they appeared to be ready to do the same thing right now. [color=goldenrod]“We know, but it’s not every day our son gets all dressed up like this. We just want to admire you, Sonny. That’s it,”[/color] Viola stated, flashing the camera in his face. Sonny wanted to say something, but he just closed his mouth. He endured it for about fifteen minutes as they wanted to take all sorts of photos. He smiled for some and brooded during the rest. After he was released from flash hell, he hopped into his orange truck and drove to Nadia’s house. It was only fifteen minutes away. Despite it being in the general area which, if everyone was being honest, it was like a small town that had big ass houses, over-the-top beaches and inhabitants, and a too-rich-for-their-own-good vibe. Sonny still felt like he stuck out like a sore thumb, but it didn’t change him from enjoying the actual luxuries and benefits that came with coming from the Banks family wealth. He popped on some tunes as he drove, though only a few minutes after he did, he slowed down as he passed April Foster’s house. That tacky mint green Ferrari that belonged to Kavi’s father was parked there. [color=darkorange]“[i]Jesus[/i],"[/color] came Sonny's exaggerated, repulsed gag-like response to seeing the ugly as all fuck Ferrari. [color=darkorange]"And people give me shit for having a bold color for a truck,”[/color] Sonny laughed as he sped along to Nadia’s house. And what a house it was. Holy shit, Sonny’s parent’s house was large but it wasn’t over the top. He didn’t know what was worse: the fact that poor, little Nadia who is so shy and the least boastful person he knew lived here or that she had to keep on that facade knowing that her parent’s house would give the Diablo’s parties a run for their money if a couple of them were thrown here. Sonny would remember to mention that to her later on. As he parked in the driveway, which was just as large as the house (when compared to other houses in the neighborhood), Sonny made the marathon-length walk to the front door. Everything about it just screamed white privilege. The only thing missing was some minority serving as the butler, but Sonny pushed those thoughts of white fuckboy-ism out as he gave the door a series of hard knocks. The door opened right away, purely by coincidence, leaving Sonny face to face with the other resident: Victoire Bailey. Her expression was as interested as someone watching paint dry, less so when she noticed who was before her. She was dressed and ready to go, her clutch in one hand and her keys in another. God knows she wasn’t going to risk Jun finding out where she lived. [color=deepskyblue]”Wow...coming to the door to pick your date up and everything, how cute,”[/color] She said, nodding in fake approval. [color=deepskyblue]”All dressed and everything. You almost look presentable.”[/color] It was a mutual surprise for Sonny as well. Who would have suspected that on a night where semi-formal was the style in which the students were expected to dress in, of all people, Victoire would actually take that as an excuse to out do just about everyone who appeared on social media flaunting their outfits before the grand unveiling. Not that Sonny was even remotely surprised. He knew she’d slay any outfit she put on, but there was a moment where Sonny had almost let her know that. And that was something that just couldn’t happen. [color=darkorange]”No need to state the obvious, Viccy.”[/color] He offered in a response, holding his own as he gave her a smug smile. [color=darkorange]”Why does it look like you’re about to leave? I don’t see the class clown anywhere. Did he not come and pick you up?”[/color] [color=deepskyblue]”And have to deal with him more than I need to? No, thank you,”[/color] Victoire immediately shut that idea down, shaking her finger at him. For once she wasn’t going to bother getting into it with Sonny, deciding that she needed a clear head if she was going to focus on avoiding Jun like the plague. [color=deepskyblue]”Besides, despite the facaulty thinking I’m a joke, I still need to oversee a few things. You know, making sure no one spikes the punch, double checking the dark corners in case anyone feels like making babies, watching out for any losers stuffed in lockers--you know, the usual.”[/color] As Victoire spoke, Nadia herself descended the staircase, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her talking to Sonny. After giving herself a once over to make sure she was ready, she popped up behind the brunette. [color=lightsalmon]”Hey! Did you want to hitch a ride with us?”[/color] She asked her. [color=deepskyblue]”No thank you, I’d rather choke on glue,”[/color] She replied. Sonny wasn’t sure what he was going to say to Vic because, to his surprise, Nadia came out looking not half-had; actually, if he had to be honest with himself, he would have to say she looked positively hot and that wasn’t because of her red hair - though that was also styled in a way that made Sonny forget completely about Vic’s annoying self. [color=darkorange]“Well, have fun living an 80s high school movie. Be sure to give Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald my best.”[/color] Yeah, that’s what he was going to say to her. So much for staying civil. [color=deepskyblue]”Eat a dick, Torvald,”[/color] Victoire ended the conversation, avoiding him as she promptly made her exit and went to her car. Biting her lower lip to avoid laughing too much, Nadia cleared her throat, her hands on her hips as she looked Sonny over. [color=lightsalmon]”You look really good,”[/color] She paid him the compliment, giving him a genuine smile. From everyone else’s mouth, his middle name had little to no effect on Sonny, but when Victoire said it, especially in the way she said it, he just couldn’t get that bad taste of it out of his mouth. He was silently cursing himself for letting himself walk right into it and cursing his parents for giving him such an awful middle name, but as soon as that came, it also soon ended when he turned around to face Nadia once more. And at that moment, he returned her smile back to her, a gesture not always done with an equal authenticity. [color=darkorange]“If I look good, then you look incredible,”[/color] he shot her back with a complement of his own as he looked her up and down. Nadia grinned, clearly pleased with his compliment. [color=lightsalmon]”Thank you!”[/color] She knew it was genuine, so it made her happy. Realizing that she was probably smiling like an idiot, she shook her head. [color=lightsalmon]”Sorry, I’ll tone it down. Ready to go?”[/color] She said, closing the door behind her. [color=darkorange]“Don’t stop on my account. You have a cute smile.”[/color] That was the only thing Sonny said until they got to his trick. If anyone saw them right now, what he did next was going to be quite the shellshock for anyone who knew Sonny Drake at all. Before she had the chance to open the passenger door, Sonny did it for her, offering her a smile. It was a good thing that Sonny didn’t think much of it, because Nadia couldn’t quite hide her bashful smile. Tucking some of her hair behind her ear, she thanked him as she got into his car, making sure her dress wouldn’t get caught in the door. His car was well taken care of, and she took a moment to just look around as he got into the car. She didn’t know what to say, but for once staying quiet didn’t feel awkward or weird. She was perfectly comfortable around him by now, and she was actually looking forward to homecoming now. The time it took for his truck to get from the outside of Nadia’s house and to the freeway was under ten minutes and in that time, Sonny didn’t really speak. He honestly didn’t know what to say nor did he feel like talking. It wasn’t that he had been suddenly in a bad mood or anything like that -far from it, actually. He was just enjoying the company and the drive. Traffic wasn’t too terrible and the brisk air was just enough to give them a breeze. In addition, it was just bright enough so that there was no need for any sort of headlight action. When Sonny took a turn at an exit, he felt his stomach growl. He didn’t just hear it, but he felt it, so he pulled into the driveway of a Red Robin.[color=darkorange] “I was so focused on trying to be civil with Vic that the silence reminded me I’m hungry”[/color] Sonny admitted, parking near the front entrance. Nadia laughed. [Color=lightsalmon]“Might as well grab something now,”[/color] She agreed, though she paused. [Color=lightsalmon]“We might be late getting there.”[/color] She had a point and Sonny seriously considered, but as his stomach continued to grumble, his hunger overtook his logic reasoning. [color=darkorange]“So we’re late,"[/color] Sonny shrugged, taking his keys from the ignition. [color=darkorange]"They said we had to attend. They never said [i]when[/i] we have to be there.”[/color] Oh, how Sonny loved himself loopholes. The redhead grinned again, nodding in agreement. He had a point, after all, and grabbing some food before going was a good idea. [Color=lightsalmon]“If you say so,”[/color] She joked. [color=darkorange]“Then, as the saying goes: let us eat!”[/color] [/indent][/indent] [/color]