[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200522/da6809ff1703602b20a07b5628382ace.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/nsAhEWC.png[/img]
[color=darkgray][sub][b][i]An [color=8882be]Alaric Sterling[/color] [@Otterpop] & [color=E2404E]Lola Russo[/color] [@Rosalia] Collab[/i][/b][/sub][/color]
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[color=darkgray][indent][indent]The courtyard was getting busy. More and more people were beginning to mingle, and Alaric decided that he needed some sort of caffeine in his system. He was still upset about the accidental text that Nate had sent. He'd been crushing on Jasper for a hot minute, but had never had the balls to actually do anything about it. And now, she was letting just anyone feel her up. In his mind, that meant she had no interest in him or if she even knew he existed. That thought frustrated him even more. He was always so unsure about trying to get close to people that the ones he was remotely interested in always slipped through the cracks. This wasn't the first time, and he had a gloomy feeling that it wouldn't be the last. He really needed to learn how to land a chick.

[color=8882be]"I need a fucking drink…."[/color] the blond muttered, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans and sauntering off towards The Bean. It wasn't alcohol but if he didn't get some sugar soon he was going to get a migraine from hell, guess those doctors were right about caffeine being the same as a drug.

As much as Lola loved starting her day with breakfast at The Bean, there was always that particularly annoying habit she had of wanting to pop in when the place was full. This morning was no exception. With the impromptu assembly having just ended, it was no surprise that the place was packed. In fact, she was only barely able to score a corner table for herself, and had to glare a few people away from her newly marked territory. But as much as she hated being in the middle of a large crowd like this, the delicious taste of a salmon and cream cheese bagel and a french vanilla latte with whipped cream and cinnamon was worth the sacrifice.

With her warm meal now sitting in front of her and the satisfaction of getting away with murder, the young woman decided it was time to treat herself to a little celebratory fun. Smirking, she pulled her cellphone out of her bag and pulled up her text messages: the special person she wanted to reach out to was number three on her list. The nails on neatly manicured fingers clicked against the screen as she typed up a quick text:

[indent][quote][b]To: Coach M[/b]
[color=E2404E][i]Hey handsome
I know this whole probation scandal must have you feeling all tense and stressed out…
Just say when and where and I’ll go take care of you babe
I’ve missed you [/i][/color] 😘😉[/quote][/indent]
Once the message was sent, Lola placed her unlocked phone next to her plate and took a bite out of her bagel. She knew there was a high chance of the recipient not answering right away (he was probably locked in a heated argument with the headmistress about removing his precious son from the probation list), but she still stared intently at her screen in hopes that he would.

Walking into the crowded Cafe made Alaric wish he'd just gone back to his room, people were scattered everywhere and it looked like there were no empty tables. He briefly debated on walking out but the smell of coffee dragged him to the long line of caffeine addicts. The Bean had the best coffee and bagels so it was no surprise that it'd be packed after an assembly, he really should have thought about that before. With a huff he stood in the ridiculous line and spent the time absently scrolling through his social media.

He couldn't believe it took 15 minutes just to get a simple dark roast and a double chocolate muffin. If he hadn't been in a bad mood before he definitely was now, and the limited seating [i]so[/i] did not help. Though among the crowd something caught his eye: a bombshell blonde who was sitting alone. He'd seen Lola Russo here and there, maybe said a few words, but never actually talked to the gorgeous woman who was completely out of his league. But he'd had a bad day so far and said fuck it. If he was going to sit somewhere, why not with her?

[color=8882be]"If he doesn't text back within 10 minutes he ain't worth it."[/color] While he was walking over he'd notice that she kept glancing at her phone. Only a guy would make a girl do that. Without even asking Alaric plopped down at the table, giving the blonde across from him a smug grin. He happened to glance down at the unlocked phone and only read the last bit, lifting an eyebrow before looking away. [color=8882be]"Correction: if he doesn't text back he's an idiot because you'd have to be stupid to pass up on you."[/color] Why was he able to talk to her so well when he couldn't even approach Jasper? Maybe because he knew a girl like this would never really give him the time of day. Pretty and blonde never mixed well with grunge and drugs.

Like her mother before her, there was a foolproof type of guy that Lola always found herself attracted to. That was, or course, the athletes: men who were tall, lean, slightly (or significantly) older than her, with strong, sharp jawlines, impossibly chiseled bodies, and an impeccable sense of style. The guy sitting in front of her, however, was as opposite from her type as anyone could get. He wasn't [i]terrible[/i] to look at, honestly-- and if she was anyone else, she'd find him to be pretty damn cute. But after being with the likes of Cassian Lee, Blake DeStefano, Harrison Cross, Nolan Murphy, and even his dad [i]the[/i] Coach Murphy just to name a few, it was easy to see why the blonde wouldn't be impressed right off the bat. 

But she was in a good mood today, and she had to give him props for having the balls to approach her in the first place. So instead of turning him down outright, the young woman would play with her food for a little bit instead.

[color=E2404E]"Tell me something I don't know,"[/color] the girl finally answered her companion with an arrogant little smirk, raising her eyebrows once before taking a long sip of her latte as she carefully studied him with her gaze. Lola knew for a fact that she'd seen this guy around before, but was still struggling to place him. So to buy herself time, she decided to call him out on the unacceptable behavior she had just witnessed him engage in. [color=E2404E]"For example: do you just go around snooping on people's text message conversations and barging into their personal spaces like this? Or am I the only one who gets that honor?"[/color]

Alaric put a hand to his chest, pretending that her words offended him before reaching for his warm drink and taking a long sip. [color=8882be]"Barging into your personal space? I like to think that I saw the cafe was full and sat down at the friendliest looking table."[/color] 

That earned the blond boy a disbelieving scoff. [color=E2404E]"Yeah, okay…"[/color] she immediately responded, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. There were many words that could be used to describe Lola, and unless you were one of three special girls of the 90210 zip code, friendly was definitely [i]not[/i] one of them.

Alaric had a feeling she would call him out for reading her text, in his defense he didn't do it on purpose exactly. [color=8882be]"Also I'm not the one who sends saucy text messages and then leaves their phone unlocked for any passing stranger to read. That nerdy girl over there passed just a second ago, maybe she accidentally looked down and took a peak? Who knows."[/color]

[color=E2404E][i]'Not if she knows what's good for her…'[/i][/color] she couldn't help but think as she pressed her lips together into a tight line. Yet as much as she hated to admit it, Lola knew this persistent little stranger had a point. Sure: he should've known it's common sense and politeness to avoid snooping around other people's conversations. But, yes: she [i]had[/i] left the door wide open for anyone to take a peek. Lord, since when had she become so careless? Her little victory had definitely gotten to her head, but she needed to get back into the game. The last thing she wanted was to have anyone find out with which very married faculty member she was hooking up with.

He had to admit that teasing her was a bit fun, not his normal cup of tea but it beat being pissed off at the world. He leaned back a bit in his chair, cup of coffee in one hand. [color=8882be]"Seriously though, my bad. I try not to let my nosy habits get out of hand but sometimes I just can't control myself."[/color]

[color=E2404E]"[i][b]O[/b]bviously[/i]…"[/color] came Lola's snarky reply, accompanied by another eye roll and a bite of her bagel. Begrudgingly, she clicked the lock button on the side of her phone, and the screen went immediately black. [color=E2404E]"There. It's locked. Is that it, or are you still trying to get into my business?"[/color]

Why did it feel like all blondes automatically came with an attitude? Alaric just stared at Lola, her snarky remarks doing little to scare him off. [color=8882be]"I don't remember actually getting into your business, I just said how someone could be stupid. I actually thought it was pretty funny but that's just me."[/color] He downed the last of his drink, setting the empty cup on the table. [color=8882be]"Would it be better if we did a do over? Pretend the last 3 minutes didn't happen? Hi, I'm Alaric and I swear I'm not some weirdo who invades people's privacy."[/color] Thinking he was hilarious the boy gave her a cheeky grin, he had no idea where he was trying to take the conversation. Just sort of going with the flow at this point.

Once again, the young woman took a moment to sip the last of her coffee while staring Alaric down. [i]Well color her impressed...[/i] There was something to be said about a man who didn't get irritated, defensive or fled when faced with the brash attitude Lola presented at first. It was a tactic she used to weed out those whose weak personalities wouldn't be able to survive around her, and to find those who would be brave enough to stick around. So far, this Alaric dude had proven himself to be capable of handling her. It was time to stop playing games and give him a shot at a real conversation with who she really was.  

Smirking with satisfaction, the blonde sat up straight and leaned forward in the young man’s direction. [color=E2404E]"I'm Lola. And if you let me start over and buy you another coffee, I promise I'll prove to you I'm not as bitchy as I pretend to be,"[/color] she answered, reaching out to place her hand over Alaric's and offering him an actual friendly smile.[/indent][/indent][/color]