[center][hr][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190324/bac15eda24c21512b67a699e9ce048dd.png[/img][hr] [img]https://em.wattpad.com/f99e262763e45af3befa9fdfe980abdb91fb175b/687474703a2f2f732d6d656469612d63616368652d6563302e70696e696d672e636f6d2f6f726967696e616c732f64342f30372f36362f64343037363664366639646533666532643062376139663734326437633966652e6a7067?s=fit&h=360&w=360&q=80[/img][/center] [center][sub][color=#6ecff6]▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃[/color][/sub] [sub][color=dimgray][b][color=ff4500]Location |[/color][/b] Camping grounds. [b][color=ff4500]Interacting with |[/color][/b] Errbody that is there. Some directed to Hugo, some specifically directed to the Misfits, and only avoidance directed to Val. [/color][/sub] [sub][color=#6ecff6]▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃[/color][/sub] [/center] [indent]Laying on a blanket, salty drops trailing down his face from spending the past hour or two building himself a tent and going on a hike to clear his head, AJ needed to cool down. When he went on a hike, he had starburst in hand (sugary medicine to 'cheer the fuck up'), a water bottle latched to his belt, and a deliberate focus on the golden sun descending. As a precaution, and simply because he wanted to, he chose to make a tent and not rent out a cabin. Fuck the cabins. What's the point of camping if you're just going to resort to lodging? [i]Pathetic[/i]. The lot of them. For being the 'pretty face, pampered one', who got on everyone's nerves, he seemed to be more comfortable getting down and dirty, more comfortable in the changing settings of nature, more comfortable with adapting, than a handful of them. You can thank his dad and Chris for that. His dad had the cliche rags to riches story, and Chris was Chris. Too prideful to take AJ's inherited money as kindness. If AJ lost it all, he believed he'd be fine. His mother and sister, on the other hand, not so much. That's okay. He'd take care of them. Deeply sighing to himself, AJ rolled to his side, thinking about calling his Valentine. There was always the urge to rant to him. Did he have a problem? The problem of using Chris as a diary? Probably. But it helped. For clarity purposes. The fact that the trip was turning out to be a pain for him, somehow the Misfits tagging along too, when he had [i]problems[/i] with people, specifically Tink, was total balls. The fact that Mandy bailed on them, not even saying goodbye but disappearing and leaving a text for him, was total balls. And don't get him started with the car ride where Emilia kept CRYING, all his efforts of cheering her up were TOTAL BALLS. Regardless, he kept his mood swings at bay, while glaring at the crackling fire projecting long shadows on the surrounding area. As much as he wanted to get lost in the glowing embers, his attention was brought to Sami's mention of Vegas. Of course they'd want to go to Vegas too. [color=ff4500][b]"I already have reservations at the Bellagio."[/b][/color] His tone was barely enthused, [color=ff4500][b]"[i]Surprise[/i]."[/b][/color] His surprise felt empty due to everyone HATING him and Sami taking ALL the credit of a Sin City trip. [color=ff4500][b]"The invitation is open to everyone, and if you--"[/b][/color] He pushed himself up to stare at the Misfits, purposely avoiding eye contact with Val, [color=ff4500][b]"-- aren't comfortable staying at the same pent as us, I'll just call my cousin for another room."[/b][/color] Being friends with AJ meant there were perks, and most that were close to him, knew his aunt, Theresa Kerkorian-Kable, had recently obtained her birthright, MGM Resorts International, which only elevated the status of his professional poker uncle, "The Archangel of Poker", Neil Kable, and his three cousins, Sonya, Elias, and Trent. To be honest, he felt their celebrity status was higher than his family's, but it could be the way they held themselves. Fame was what you made of it and the only thing AJ ever flaunted was his vehicle collection and prowess. His parents, a Technology and Media Guru and a Broadway Star, versus, his uncle and aunt, the Best Poker Player of the Decade and a Hotel Darling. You be the judge. Fame was fame, and AJ knew he was lucky to be born without the troubles of those with barely anything to their name. The only reason he brings up his money is to take care of the people he cares about. He didn't really see it as obnoxious and disrespectful. If he had the money, shouldn't he share it? That made sense to him, but to some people, they just saw a rich brat. [b][color=669900]"Bonjour Monsieurs~! Mademoiselles~! A fine night around the fire, no?!"[/color][/b] Before anyone could accept or decline Sami and AJ's offers, a hippie looking dude invited himself to their fire. Silently, AJ watched the older man strum his guitar with no care in the world. No worry. AJ could tell by looking at him that there were no ill intentions, just a man who wanted company and who fed his wanderlust on a daily. [color=669900][b]"My apologies [i]les amis[/i] if I interrupted, I am simply another traveler looking to explore the world and your fire seemed so inviting."[/b][/color] It was refreshing. To be around someone who didn't share similar plights as this odd group of high school graduates. [b][color=669900]"How has your day been?"[/color][/b] The sweet refrain of the acoustic guitar was nearly in sync to the song playing on the radio. Maybe this was a change in pace AJ needed to be in, to stop brooding and take action. To stop being a baby. Live a life of no worries. Hakuna matata, right? The lion cub needed to take a note from those loved ones and better himself. Without them, he would be only an asshole. Yes, this was their summer! And dammit, they were going to have FUN. [color=ff4500][b]"Shitty, but I'm over it."[/b][/color] Picking himself up, AJ opened up the cooler and gestured for the hobo to take something, [color=ff4500][b]"Help yourself to food and drink, dude. You look like you've been walking for days."[/b][/color] With that, he looked back at the large group, [color=ff4500][b]"Think about it. Getting another room is just a phone call away. Let's stop wasting our summer being bitches."[/b][/color] He should apologize to Val... bury the hatchet, even if it means saying sorry. Internally, he was growling at himself. He hated saying sorry. He wasn't even in the wrong! Opening his mouth to call to her, wanting to ask for some more time to talk, he decided against it. It wasn't the right time. Okay, he was going to be a little bitch for a bit longer. [color=ff4500][b]"I'm going to make a call. Tell ghost stories or play a game. Do [i]something[/i]. Get drunk. Have fun!"[/b][/color] After turning on his heel, AJ strolled away, down the hiking path once more, and pulled out his phone. Fortunately, he had a portable charger and he could make this call. [color=ff4500][b]"Call my Valentine."[/b][/color] What would he do without his phone?[/indent]