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[i]Cheeky bitch[/i], he thought to himself as he picked up the card on his bed. He had really only meant to stop in for a moment, just to change his clothes but he'd paused at the sight of the white envelope resting across his pillow. His name was scrawled across the front and he was [i]much[/i] too nosy not to pick it up. He wasn't surprised to find a letter from Rachel, one telling him where to find a ridiculous stash of weed. 

He still wasn't surprised when he actually [i]did[/i] find the weed, tucked away in a little brass box beneath the bed. He was almost unable to keep himself from laughing at the impression he'd made on her to get himself sent a stash of weed. It was all still so unbelievably [i]extra[/i] but at least he'd be high as a kite while indulging in the excess. Rachel had a strange way of just [i]knowing[/i] what to do, it was one of the things he found endearing about her.

He wasn't about to spend another moment marveling over [i]her majesty[/i] though, he took the glass pipe from his bag and packed it before taking a hit. A few hits later and he finally made his way to the shower, washed the smell of cigarette smoke from his hair and swapped out his outfit for another. Black and gray plaid, sleeves rolled to the elbows, black jeans, black converse. It wasn't a far cry from his last outfit but [i]c'est la vie[/i], he'd never claimed to be a fashion icon. He forced a brush through his hair, splashed some water on his face and set out for the bonfire.

He was in good spirits, humming to himself as he walked. Most things were better under a bit of a weed haze and he was [i]excited[/i]. He could already see people starting to gather and the fire was being started, it cast a ruddy illumination over the sand. It all just screamed [i]summer[/i], and he was more than ready to get the party started.

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He caught the flash of Theodore's grin when he approached, unable to keep himself from grinning back. "[color=f26522]Alas, I somehow managed not to throw myself overboard before we hit the island,[/color]" he intoned devilishly. "[color=f26522]Every time it passed my mind as an escape from all this partying, I had to wonder what you'd do without me.[/color]" He was joking, of course, he'd been just as excited for this as anyone else. Ezekiel may not have been a frequenter of parties into his older years but he'd been growing weary over the last few months. Rachel had offered him an [i]out[/i] from the mundane droll.

He had to give it to her for being able to see how [i]tired[/i] he truly was. They spoke nearly every day at the cafe and he'd always been so sure that he'd covered up the bone-deep exhaustion, apparently not. He'd have to thank her sometime in person, but for now he was content to bask in the time spent with his best friend. Theodore was not someone who was [i]heavy[/i] and being around him was as easy as breathing.

Theodore's hand thumped Ezekiel's back and he couldn't help but laugh, shrugging. "[color=f26522]Yeah, I'm settled enough, and the guys were-[/color]" he mused, the guys were assholes sometimes but not assholes he was unfamiliar with. He'd been sure to hide his journal securely between his mattress and his bedframe, paranoia and old habits really [i]did[/i] die hard. "[color=f26522]-the guys. Don't start expecting extra out of your bandmates [i]now[/i].[/color]" He said, voice bordering on playful. 

He was handed his water from the pretty blonde behind the bar, paper flower and all. He took a sip from the glass, nudging the little carnation away from his mouth with the tip of his finger and trailing his gaze over the growing group. Everyone knew Theodore, he recognized a few people but not all of them. It was steadily becoming a game of putting names to faces in case they addressed him. Despite this small anxiety, it was nice, unfamiliar but nice. It was almost [i]nostalgic[/i], highschool parties with Theodore had wrought some of his best memories. 

"[color=f26522]She always [i]does[/i] seem to go the extra mile,[/color]" he mused, turning to get a good look at the bonfire being started in the near distance. It really [i]did[/i] feel like summer with a proper bonfire going, he almost wished he'd brought his journal so he could more properly wax poetic about it. He'd have to write something tonight, he made a mental note before continuing. "[color=f26522]Does she ever get tired of being the best? That's a hell of a title to hold onto.[/color]"

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