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[img]https://i.imgur.com/swVWez7.png[/img]
[sub]An [@Altered Tundra] & [@Inertia] Collaboration
featuring [b][color=4169e1]Theodore Bonfamille[/color][/b] & [b][color=89cff0]Connor Kennedy[/color][/b][/sub]

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[color=4169e1]“Man, I can’t figure her out.”[/color]

Theodore felt like shit. His head was pounding, neck and shoulders felt sore as shit, and he was pretty sure a few of his ribs were bruised. In what was probably his second most idiotic idea ever (the first being when he consumed the mystery drink thanks to his best pal), Theo was left in the eye of the shitstorm that all started because Cassian Lee couldn’t take a hint. He just had to keep on pushing Theo until the point of no return and now, as royally fucked up things were, the cherry that topped it was Mac.

Fucking Mac. 

Never in Theodore’s life had he felt such an intense, not to mention simultaneous, confusion and anger when it came to someone like MacKenna Diedrickson. She was an absolute bombshell, but hell be damned that he understood her. In his mind, what he thought he did was noble. It might have been macho and maybe on some level, he did it because he hated Cassian and not because he wanted to defend Mac, but for her to react how she did was, well it was confusing. Cassian was rude to her and disrespected her without a moment’s hesitation, so Theo came to her defense. Yet, after it was all said and done, Theo was still given the third degree.

As he exhaled, wincing from what was obviously internal pain, Theo glanced at Connor with a weary expression, one that was the visual definition of ‘I’m so done’. [color=4169e1]“I’m ready to blow this joint.”[/color]

Holy hell. Everything exploded around Connor in a blink of an eye and the situation escalated in the worst way possible. The brawl ended quickly, quicker than Connor could react to. The blond was the last person that’s allowed to be judgemental but he’ll be damned if he thinks Theo handled it well. Connor simply shot an apologetic look towards Mac at her final words. With a sigh, he held his hand out towards Theo. 

[color=#89cff0]”Man, that wasn’t how I saw the evening unfolding.”[/color] Connor fished out his pill bottle, offering the Bonfamille a few. From experience, he’s seen Theo lose it but never to this extent. The whole situation reminded him of a few things in his past. [color=#89cff0]”Jeez man, what happened back there, Theo? I know Cassian can be a bit much at times- well, most times, but he’s mostly all bark.”[/color]

As he stood up and walked a few steps to a nearby table, he grabbed a handful into a bucket of melted ice and Theo downed two of the pills that Connor offered him with a handful of ice-cold water. He shook his head from just how chilly it was and winced with every motion his neck made. [color=4169e1]“I don’t know man. I just...lost it,”[/color] he sighed, turning back to Con. [color=4169e1]“All I know is that piece of shit Cassian Lee pushed all the right buttons and got what he wanted. Not only does he have the judgemental Lola Russo on his side, now even Mac is less to me and more towards him.”[/color] 

Connor initially planned to just sleep in his car after the party, let the drunkenness fade. However, his mood to party has all but disappeared. As expected of the Great Bash. His mind drifted to how childish Cassian was acting, nearly playground-level insults. What was worse was how Theo reacted. He sympathized with him, if he was still his old self the situation might’ve played entirely the same. Lastly, Connor couldn’t help agreeing with what Mac said. 

There was an awkward tension that filled the air; the gawkers pretending to be occupied were giving them both leery glances. Connor had sobered up quickly, what little buzz he had going was entirely gone. [color=#89cff0]”Don’t worry about that. Mac probably went away with worse opinions of both of you.”[/color] He said sharply. [color=#89cff0]”Fuck what Cassian and Lola think of you right now, worry about yourself. Are you alright? Do you need me to drive you home or to the hospital or something?”[/color]

[color=4169e1]“Yeah, don’t worry about me, bro! I’m a little banged up but I can walk.”[/color] Theo might have felt immense pain in his upper body but he wasn’t seeing stars, which he was thankful for. [color=4169e1]“But what I [i]will[/i] need your help getting my ass away from these annoying ass onlookers who [b]DON’T KNOW WHEN TO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS![/b]”[/color] Immediately after he shouted, all of the progress he made to find himself comfortable and in a place where he wasn’t wincing every five seconds went out the window.

Theo waited for the pain to subside and when he wasn’t wincing as much, he stepped a few feet closer to Connor. [color=4169e1]“Since I royally screwed up your chance to be my wingman, I’m giving you a different job! You’re going to be my escort and your first job is to get me from this cabin to campus without me dying.”[/color]

Connor winced at Theo’s sudden shout at the onlookers. [color=#89cff0][i]Seems like he’s still letting it all out.[/i][/color] The blond tossed his prescribed paracetamol bottle at Theodore.  [color=#89cff0]”Keep it. Seems like you need it more than me. Just don’t tell my private doctor.”[/color] He half-joked, trying to lighten up the somber mood. [color=#89cff0]”Come on, lean on me. We’ll head back to campus. The party’s a blowout anyway.”[/color]

The blond fished in his pockets, surprised to find a ping pong ball there. The duo was pretty far from the beer pong table now. [color=#89cff0]”One sec.”[/color] He threw the ball, with another high arc it cut through the air and strongly landed into the cup. [color=#89cff0]”I’m telling ya, Theo, that was an easy win...”[/color] Connor said as the cup shook violently, threatening to fall over. He didn’t look back as it stabilized itself. With a chuckle he let the redhead lean on him again.

Theo couldn’t agree more and he walked with Connor, pushing through those who tried to get a piece of the person that Cassian Lee showed mercy to (their words, not Theo’s). [color=4169e1]“So much for this being the biggest party of the year,”[/color] Theo murmured, it being the last thing he said while at the party. This was when he and Connor disappeared into the darkness of the woods, disappointment on their minds and a gentle reminder that hype is often just that.

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