[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200120/4fbacfa3a39c58defeb9a381f89cda76.png[/img][/center] On the afternoon before the party at the lake house, Steph spent a few hours getting ready - she left her hair down but curled the ends, and put on more makeup than strictly necessary, picking a sparkly pale blush-pink eyeshadow to match her [url=https://i.pinimg.com/474x/7e/04/d2/7e04d211db251614e456761418db9e99.jpg]romper[/url]. She wore pretty gold bangles around her wrists (with hoop earrings to match), and chose a pair of strappy gold sandals to complete the ensemble. Of course, with Steph being Steph, it was almost like, federally [i]required[/i] that she post a mirror shot of our outfit on Snapchat and Instagram before the party. Once that was done, she grabbed her car keys. As usual, Steph would be the designated driver, mostly because she 1) didn’t really like drinking [i]that[/i] much, and 2) had a minivan (which, for all that the other Thorns made fun of her for, was actually super convenient for nights like these where drunk people would need a way to get home). [color=#f4bad0]“I’m leaving, Mom!”[/color] she yelled as she pounded down the stairs, passing her brother on her way out. Kevin would [i]not[/i] be going to the party, because he would rather play League at home than get plastered. And also, he was an underclassmen. The infamous mom van was parked in the driveway. It was a 1999 Honda Odyssey with eight seats (including the driver’s seat), an AC system that would probably only last another few months or so, and a sliding door on the right that somehow stopped working like, when Steph was twelve. All in all, the car was older than Steph herself...and probably would not pass inspection, next year. But because it was either [i]this[/i] or no car at all, Steph made do. Even though there were sparkly My Little Pony stickers on some of the side windows. She hopped into the driver’s seat and got ready to go, quickly pulling up the Thorns group chat and tapping out a message: [indent][indent][color=#f4bad0][i]Hey melissa im omw!!![/i][/color][/indent][/indent] Then, she pulled out of the driveway and headed in the direction of Melissa’s house, sending the group chat another text when she arrived. Melissa had received the first text but hadn't quite checked her phone for the second. The giant cooler she was lugging around saw to that. The container was a steal of a deal though, in that she paid nothing for it after her mom lifted it from the Walmart dumpsters. The draining spigot was obliterated, but that was nothing that some hastily repurposed silly putty didn't fix. Plus the sparkly pink really gave the solid blue a nice touch. The ice would be held in place long enough to keep the vast selection of Breezers cool while Melissa and her fellow Thorns systematically went through them. And she worked wayyy too hard on acquiring the alcohol to drink it warm. After she pushed the monstrous cooler into a spot towards the door, she straightened up and checked herself in the mirror. While a lake party demanded a focus on comfort over couture clothing, Melissa had done very well to make herself up to shine on both counts. Her sweater dress would catch eyes and keep her warm well into the deceptively chill September night. The leggings showed off her well-toned lower body, and the fleece lining would serve the same purpose as her top. Her shoes… were just sneakers, but she wasn't busting out premium pumps at a nature party. That was a suicide mission. Her makeup was on point though, with the eyeliner contoured to highlight the splash of red her shadow contained. The dangling necklace and sparkling bracelets would glimmer in the light of the fire. She did damn good. Now she just needed to get this chariot of nectar into the chariot of never… getting a passing grade from life or a mechanic. There would be time to work on that in the godawful minivan. "So why can't I go to this party?" Melissa let out a sigh as her sister chimed in from her spot on the couch. [color=CE0F3D]"Because you're not a senior and you're 15, Zoey,"[/color] the elder Elliott replied. "So?" [color=CE0F3D]"So this isn't fucking Arkansas where the drinking age is 11 and I will be damned if I have to explain to Mom why you're face down in a pile of multi-colored puke on Sunday and then pregnant on Christmas!"[/color] Melissa huffed. [color=CE0F3D]"So unless you want to help me carry this, shut up and stay put. Besides, I need you to be my cover in case I don't come home and Mom starts asking questions. If she asks, I am-"[/color] "Having a sleepover in Steph's backyard with root beers all around. Which is why you need the cooler. Sure. You owe me for this though." [color=CE0F3D]"You are repaid every day with the honor of being my sister. Now be a good sibling and at least hold the door for me while I kick this thing towards the rust heap."[/color] Melissa dashed a quick text off to Steph. [quote][code] Help me. This thing is so heavy!!! [/code][/quote] Zoey got up and obliged her sister's wish for an open door. "How did you even get that much Bacardi anyway?" [color=CE0F3D]"Don't worry about it. Love you. Later,"[/color] Melissa mimicked an air kiss as she lugged the beastly bottle bin out towards the minivan. When Steph got Melissa’s text, she immediately hopped out of the car and headed over to where her friend was struggling with the cooler. [color=#f4bad0]“Hey!”[/color] she greeted cheerfully, and together, the two of them managed to wrestle the cooler into the trunk of her minivan. Once that was taken care of, Steph got back into the car, and Melissa slid into the passenger seat. Steph quickly sent Cami a text, because Cami’s house was on the way to Tiff’s - [i][color=#f4bad0]cami, we’ll be there in a few![/color][/i] - then pulled out of Melissa’s driveway. When they arrived a few minutes later, Steph quickly shot off another text message to let Cami know that they were there. [color=CE0F3D]“I know I don’t say this very often, because it is definitely not the case very often,”[/color] Melissa started as the two waited for Cami, [color=CE0F3D]“but I am actually glad you have the minivan for nights like tonight.”[/color] Steph giggled. [color=#f4bad0]“As long as it doesn’t end up pushed into the lake by the end of the night,”[/color] she answered. [color=CE0F3D]“No promises,”[/color] Melissa confirmed. [color=CE0F3D]“It’s still hot girl summer after all. Anything can happen. Including giving this van the burial at lake it deserves… But probably it’ll be fine.”[/color] Camila felt a tad guilty about lying to her father. Not long after she came home from school today, he left for his weekend-long business trip. She had known about the lake party throughout the week and was on the fence about not going, but the two people who convinced her other wise, well one was sitting right next to her and the other was co-hosting the party with someone by the name of JK Moore. The reason she felt guilty was due to how she told her father that she would be hanging with Ludvig and didn’t even mention the party to him. She sighed nervously, looking over her outfit for the party, which consisted of a [url=http://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/497a83-l-610x610-blouse-cardigan-crop+tops-high+waisted+short-black+crop-summer+outfits-sweater--tank-black-strap-crop-tumblr-halter-black+shirt-grunge-hipster-american+apparel-aesthetic-aesthetic+.jpg]black spaghetti-strap top, jean shorts, a beige jacket (in the event it got chilly at the party), and to top it off, Camila had a floral bandana that she tied over her head.[/url] [color=cd5c5c]“Well, how do I look?”[/color] She asked Ludvig who was doing the same thing for his own outfit. Ludvig who had been distractedly browsing one of Camila’s magazines. [color=F9F4D5]“Huh?”[/color] he asked looking up from the glossy pages his concentration had been on the list [i]‘10 ways to spot a cheater’[/i]. [color=F9F4D5]“Oh... you know I will always be a fan of what you choose! Except for your affinity of animal print.”[/color] he joked eyeing the leopard print skirt still in the ‘maybe’ pile. He threw the magazine on top of her bed and stood up walking over to his friend looking at her reflection in the mirror. [color=F9F4D5]“You need to relax dude… your dad will never find out.” Ludvig sighed “I mean we don’t have to go you know… we can [i]actually[/i] stay here and hang out… I don’t care either way. I’ve faced Aria’s rage before… I can take it.”[/color] he smiled over her shoulder resting his chin on it. That was one option she had considered. The guilt alone was enough to put the idea in her head and with Ludvig’s suggestion, it remained a possibility. She wouldn’t be missing out on much, right? Even if people were going to be disappointed, which by people, that really meant the Thorns. Ever since her brief talk with Melissa, there has been a sort of consistent, if not sudden, friendship with them. They were high on her joining the cheer squad and she obviously was all for it. Of course, she knew they might be disappointed if she chose to skip out, but maybe it would be for the-- Camila was brought out of her internal struggles as she heard her phone go off. As she opened it up, the notif was from the Thorns group chat. She must have dazed off longer than she thought because, even though the message stated they were on their way, that was from a few minutes ago. And, of course, as all things seemed to be rushed for her right now, both Camila and Ludvig heard the sound of a honk from outside. [color=cd5c5c]“Oh, I guess in a few really meant in a few,”[/color] she noted, shaking her head. She walked back into her room and took a peak out her window, seeing a minivan parked in front with Melissa and Steph in the front seats. [color=cd5c5c]“Crap, they’re already here!?”[/color] She gasped. [color=cd5c5c]“Well, I guess it’s too late to bow out now.”[/color] She sighed slightly, grabbing her handbag as they quickly made their way out the door. [color=F9F4D5]"Woah Steph… Nice ride!”[/color] Ludvig exclaimed as the pair walked out towards the girls in the car.[color=F9F4D5] “I feel very… safe”[/color] he joked scratching one of the pony stickers as he stepped into the cavernous vehicle. Cami took a seat next to Ludvig. [color=cd5c5c]“Sorry, I hope it’s okay Ludvig rides with us. We were hanging since we got out of school today and time escaped me,”[/color] she said to Melissa and Steph as she settled into her seat, finding it to be surprisingly comfortable. Melissa shrugged. [color=CE0F3D]“If he’s willing to actually ride in this rustbucket without needing to transport enough alcoholic drinks to blackout Akron, he can go ahead. I guess.”[/color] Steph twisted around in her seat to wave hi. [color=#f4bad0]“Oh, stop it,”[/color] she said in response to Ludvig’s joke, laughing. [color=#f4bad0]“If I had a choice, I wouldn’t be driving this, either.”[/color] Once Cami and Ludvig were settled in, Steph began backing the car out of Cami’s driveway. [color=#f4bad0]“I like your outfit, Cami!”[/color] she said, peering up into the rearview mirror. [color=#f4bad0]“And can someone tell Tiff that we’re on the way?”[/color] [color=cd5c5c]“Thank you, Steph!”[/color] The red-haired girl smiled at Steph and pulled out her phone, bringing up the group chat. [i]”Hey Tiff! We’re on our way!”[/i] She hit send and leaned back into the seat, getting as comfortable as she could. It wasn’t long before they pulled up at Tiff’s house, and after she got in, Steph directed the minivan in the direction of the lake. As usual, she was relying on Melissa to help her navigate, because she was absolute shit with directions. As soon as everyone was nestled into the van and conversations faded into gradual silence, the drive to the party was, for the most part, quiet. Cami and Ludvig talked some, Tiff chimed in only in a way that she could, and all the while Steph and Mel were talking about something as well. With all of the murmured whispers, it was mostly just everyone doing their own thing until the sight of the towering bonfire came into view. It was at that moment that lips stopped moving and eyes simultaneously went to the front as a parking spot as close to the lake without it being in the way nor too far to carry the cooler came to the driver’s attention. Eyes still remained on the bonfire. It wasn’t that Cami was a stranger to them but this was probably the biggest she seen, so it took her a moment to take it all in before she snapped out of it. The music was a familiar sound. The last time she heard music among some growing crowds was the farewell bash her SI friends threw her back in late July. The feeling she found herself overcome with was like a mixture of longing for her New York friends and a genuine sparkle of joy at the prospect of rekindling with ones she had left here (present company excluded). [color=cd5c5c]“Hey Lud, let’s go see if we can find Aria..”[/color] A moment of temporary forgetfulness came over her as she glanced at Steph and Melissa. [color=cd5c5c]“Oh sorry, did you want us to help with the cooler?”[/color] She asked the two girls. Her father had always taught her to be as considerate as she could, so she always made sure that she was. Once Steph had parked the car, she turned off the ignition and took off her seatbelt. [color=#f4bad0]“That would be great, thanks!”[/color] Steph chirped as she opened the trunk. Together, all of them managed to get the cooler out, and Steph thanked Cami and Ludvig again. Then, she turned around to admire the bonfire again - she was [i]so[/i] ready for the party!!!