[color=silver] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjEwNi5kMDgyN2MuUW5KbFlXdG1ZWE4wSUdGMElFMWxZV1J2ZHcsLC4wAAAAAAAAAAAA/valentina.regular.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/PPQaM6c.png[/img]
[sub][i]A collaboration with [color=ffa791]Junie[/color], [color=f6989d]Elliot[/color] & [color=7cc8d0]Evie[/color][/i][/sub][/center]
[indent][indent][color=f6989d]"I'm just going to assume you got that ridiculous text because you get everything because your friends with everyone somehow, but I feel like I missed out on the good parts of the Bash."[/color]

Elliot’s pout was met with her own puppy-dog stare. [color=7cc8d0]“At least you were at the bash!”[/color] She cried out dramatically. [color=7cc8d0]“I’m getting punished for [i]not[/i] getting involved!”[/color] How was that fair? Luckily she had no scholarship to worry about, but her grades had some other story to tell. Surely she would get some justice here, it truly wasn’t fair!

At the mention of food Evie perked up again, nodding along with the idea. [color=7cc8d0]“Yes! Then you can spill any more details about that… [i]banjo[/i] of a person you met at the party.”[/color] Evie’s nose crinkled in displeasure, but a buzz from her skirt pocket stopped her thoughts from growing sour once again.

[quote]
[b]Junie[/b] 🥰😊🤩
[i][color=ffa791]Meet me at the studio. Bring something yummy.[/color][/i]😘
[/quote]

...Well, that settled it! What Junie asked for, Junie got.

Elliot couldn’t help but laugh, his blonde friend’s pout was just too damn adorable. [color=f6989d]"Well you can blame the idiots who thought it’d be a good idea to take videos at a secret party….honestly why would anyone think that’s smart? "[/color] Then the spiteful queen saw it, which he was surprised about because she didn’t look like the kind of person who passed the time browsing through social media. Maybe she sat in her office all day daydreaming all the things she’d like to do in order to make their lives miserable….yea that was probably it.

He shook his head, her insults were definitely interesting. [color=f6989d] “Alright alright, but there’s not any more to tell. He was a dick, I told him to fuck off. Pretty cut and dry, Evie.”[/color] His stomach screamed for food again and he gestured towards the cafeteria, ushering the small girl towards the place that would finally satisfy his hunger, oblivious to the text message she had gotten. [color=f6989d] “Come on blondie, let's go before I starve to death.”[/color]

[color=7cc8d0]“I hope you don’t mind, but we gotta get something extra. Junie must be getting hungry now.”[/color] Evie said, scanning the message from Junie one more time, as if waiting for another message to follow. [color=7cc8d0]“I do hope she had her breakfast, otherwise I’m gonna have to lecture you both about eating good.”[/color] And being a lecturer wasn’t exactly Evie’s strongest skill, given her tendency to get distracted easily and general inability to look or sound convincing.

Meanwhile, Evie was in the middle of shooting her own response back at Junie.

[quote]
[b]Junie[/b] 🥰😊🤩
[color=7cc8d0][i]ur personal uber eats is on its way[/i] 😙
[i]straight from the local cafeteria[/i] 😩[/color]
[/quote]

The walk from the courtyard to the cafeteria was short, and Evie spent much of it grilling Elliot about the rest of his weekend, craving any sort of tea that could make this punishment even sort of worth it. The food at the cafeteria wasn’t Junie’s standards, but Evie had to make do with her options. If only she had the extra hands…

It was an incredible balancing act, but eventually Evie was able to carry a bottle of chilled orange juice, a wrapped wholemeal bagel with two extra blueberry muffins and a nice white chocolate cookie. She turned to face Elliot sheepishly. [color=7cc8d0]“I think this qualifies as more than extra?”[/color] She laughed. [color=7cc8d0]“You’re gonna have to guide me to the art building. We can have brunch there.”[/color]

[color=f6989d]“Junie?”[/color] It was all he really had time to say before he was dragged along with Evie into the cafeteria. He knew Evie and Junie were friends and had hung out with them on an occasion or two but didn’t really talk to her much. He rolled his eyes as she tried to carry all the food in her tiny arms, the things she would do for this sorority girl. [color=f6989d]“Alright, let's get this girl her food before you drop it all over the ground.”[/color] He used one hand to guide Evie to the art building while he carried a wrapped breakfast sandwich and a bottle of orange juice in the other.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Vx3QDsT.png[/img][/center]
On the highest level of the art building, in the art studio with the best natural lighting because of the tall windows, Juniper went to her painting that she had left at her designated spot (far right corner) since Friday. Sitting on the stool, she scanned her [url=https://imgur.com/OPpHcn0]piece[/url], clearly having doubts. It didn’t [i]feel[/i] perfect. Something was off. While the woman was sensual enough to be seen as sexy and delicate enough to be portrayed as beautiful, she didn’t feel like it was enough. This was one of her weakest paintings. There was no shimmer to it, no talent. She was a failure and maybe she’d never be a genius and should give up while she was ahead. All she wanted was to be great and if she couldn’t, then she’d be nothing.

Grabbing one of her clean brushes, she dipped it in the darkest of blues. Did this have anything to do with the art itself and her middling talent? Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. Or perhaps it had to do with the phone resting on the table and the only texts she received this lovely morning was of her dear twin and… Evie. With no ounce of hesitation, she slapped the paint on the woman’s chest and slid down her body, ultimately ruining whatever the piece was by leaving a mark where there shouldn’t be one.

Junie had been on cloud nine from her adventurous weekend with her crush of three years since she last saw him. Now that things were slowing down it was starting to sink in that he hadn’t messaged her yet. He, someone she felt a strong connection with, was too busy for her, to even think about her. And to add to her sour mood, Lola was [i]clearly[/i] avoiding any advances of a friendship with her. Why was it so hard to build a bridge with that woman?! 

After grinding her teeth together, she scooped an ample amount of paint this time. Throwing all technique out the door, she slapped her brush against the woman’s face, which caused the paint to splatter and hit Junie’s cheek. This painting was fucking garbage. With the sound of the ticking clock, Junie continued to terrorize her art with an assortment of colors, ultimately causing the image it once was to vanish completely from her sight. When her stomach grumbled, she growled, [color=ffa791]“What is taking her so long...”[/color]

[color=7cc8d0]“We’re here!”[/color] Evie all but shouted as the two burst into the art building with the food together. She offered Junie an excited beam, showing off the treats in her arm. Despite it being only cafeteria food, she hoped that she picked up enough options for Junie to choose from and enjoy. She bounded over to Junie’s side, examining the art. [color=7cc8d0]“That’s… beautiful…”[/color] Evie’s eyebrows furrowed. This had to be abstract art, right? Surely that slice of paint had to mean something mysterious!    

Not bothering to look away from her ‘abstract’ painting, Junie rejected her friend’s compliment, [color=ffa791]“This is why, Evie, you are not an artist.”[/color] Placing her brush on the table, she grabbed a hand towel and started wiping her hands. [color=ffa791]“I turned garbage into bitterness.”[/color] Standing up from the stool, she continued on her tangent, [color=ffa791]“Bitterness is like cancer, don’t you think? And that is how it looks like.”[/color] And how she felt.

Finally, she twirled her body to face the two people in her sanctuary to meet the gaze of a new face. They might have sat with each other before, but Junie had no recollection of him whatsoever. Once she tossed the towel on the table, she crossed her arms and surveyed the boy, scrutinizing him with her icy glare. [color=ffa791]“Hm.”[/color] After a brief pause, and a step closer to Elliot, she graced him with a charming smile, [color=ffa791]“Now who might this be?”[/color] By the way she was looking at Elliot, up and down, it could be easily gathered that Junie was already assuming he was more than just platonic friends to her darling Evie.

Not really sure what to say, Elliot quietly stood back as Evie announced their arrival in the artsy room. He sort of just nibbled on his sandwich as he glanced around the room, not looking at anything in particular. He didn't understand what Junie meant when she said that she was turning her painting from garbage into bitterness. Was that like a metaphor or something? Photography could be left to interpretation sometimes but he was used to looking at a picture and knowing what it meant. Art wasn't so simple all the time and honestly gave him a headache. Good thing he wasn't an art major.

It was at that point Elliot realized Junie was staring at him, he blinked a few times and gave her a nervous but polite smile. Why did it feel so weird to have someone's attention on you? He felt like she was inspecting him, looking for a flaw or mistake. But then it clicked in his head and seeing that smile that maybe Junie was thinking the wrong thing. [color=f6989d]"Ah….hi. I'm Elliot, I'm a friend of Evie's. Hope you don't mind an extra person, someone had to make sure she didn't fall with all that food."[/color] He said in a teasing manner. While he did think Evie was cute they weren't an item and he would hate to have someone make that mistake. What if Evie had a crush on someone? He knew if it was him he'd feel awkward. Heck he kind of felt awkward now.

Evie’s cheeks were inflamed, and she smiled goofily between her two friends. [color=7cc8d0]“Eli’s like, super cool, you’d love him!”[/color] Oblivious to the thought running on both their minds, she changed the topic immediately. Who doesn’t love some food? Junie was clearly feeling some kind of way, even if Evie thought her art was still incredible even with the garish mark and all. Elliot munching on his sandwich just reminded her that she had a delivery to follow through! [color=7cc8d0]“Take your bagel and this muffin. It’ll cheer you right up,”[/color] She offered, placing down the juice box beside Junie. [color=7cc8d0]“Then you can see the beauty in bitterness!”[/color] She added with her trademark Evie smile.

Hm. Examining the muffin, Junie nodded in approval, [color=ffa791]“I do love blueberries, and look at that, you remembered to put the strawberry cream cheese on the side. Honestly. What would I do without you?”[/color] Placing the bag back on the table, after peering in and making sure everything was to her liking, she sat back down on her stool and gestured for the other two to take a seat. Crossing her legs, she reached for her drink and took a leisure sip, before letting out a giggle,  [color=ffa791]“Elliot and Evie. Double E. Has such a cute ring to it.”[/color] They might not be an item right now, but it was only a matter of time. The fact that Evie was comfortable enough to bring him here to Junie herself showed this kid had more importance than the average friend. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t ship them. They were both cute. Cute people should date other cute people to maximize their cuteness.  

Still not touching her food, Junie placed her drink back down and apologized,  [color=ffa791]“Sorry for the mess, I don’t get this carried away usually. I do have a question, though. For both of you. Well, perhaps more so you, Elliot, than Evie, since I already know how she is when it comes to texting. How long would you wait for someone to text or call you? Say this someone was a person you were sure enough wanted to become more than just friends. It’s been two days since we last talked and I can’t help but feel I might’ve given too much, too soon.”[/color] Evelyn trusted Elliot enough to bring him here, so Junie would trust him enough to get an outsider’s perspective with her own boy troubles. 

[i]'Something please get me out of this situation…'[/i] Elliot thought to himself as he sat down on a nearby stool. Junie was really trying her best to hint to Evie what she thought, bless his blonde friend’s heart for being an oblivious girl. [color=f6989d]"It's cool, you should see my roommates room if you think this is messy."[/color] The topic changed very quickly as he listened to Junie's question, finishing off the sad excuse for a breakfast sandwich. He had a feeling that this wasn't just a 'what if’ type of thing but more pertaining to her own situation, whatever it might be. [color=f6989d]"Well...if it was me I would try to message them. I mean if I know they are interested in me, do they know I'm interested in them? I know a lot of guys around here sometimes think sorority girls just sleep with guys to get a mark under their belt, does this guy know for sure this isn't the case? Plus I wouldn't doubt that he's waiting for you to message him. You'll both end up waiting forever if that's the case."[/color] He was surprised that he was actually able to say something decent instead of babbling off into a tangent. 

[color=ffa791]“I guess I’ll wait forever!”[/color] Junie dramatically exclaimed. [color=ffa791]“There is NO WAY in hell I’d message first. What am I? [i]Desperate[/i]? HA.”[/color] At this point, the redhead had finished spreading the cream cheese on her bagel, smearing it in such a precise manner where it looked perfectly smooth and covered the places that mattered. [color=ffa791]“If he doesn’t want a piece of this again, it’s his loss.”[/color] As if. Junie was not going to compromise her pride for someone she thought she had sparks with. She was better than that.  

Evie pursed her lips, feeling conflicted. There really was only one right answer! Continuing Elliot's point, she finally added, [color=7cc8d0]“Yeah, like, what’s the point of waiting? Maybe he got busy, or... like, had to take care of his grandma."[/color] Evie could probably guess who her friend, her [i]crush[/i] was pining for, but she couldn't fake her opinion either, even if it meant shooting herself in the foot. [color=7cc8d0]"Did you message him? Guys like initiative. That's why Bumble exists!"[/color]

Ugh. Two people telling her she should just go for it. Junie grabbed her phone and blankly stared at it. [color=ffa791]“Fine, fine, whatever. I’ll do it. I guess it is the Macmillan way to take charge. I’m sure Rosie would’ve told me the same.”[/color] She [i]hated[/i] being the first to show she cared. Why couldn’t the guy try? Why was it always on the girl? UGH.  [color=ffa791]“So, what should I say? I don’t want to seem… needy. I’m thinking, hey, miss you. Hope to talk soon. Kissy face. Kitty paw. Emojis.”[/color]  

Oh no, no no… That wouldn’t do! Evie clicked her tongue, quickly taking Junie's phone from her hand. It was an impulsive decision, but she had a plan. [color=7cc8d0]"No, lemme do it. I got just the idea!"[/color] So what if her idea was from Cosmo? It worked for the writer! And even if it didn’t work… Well, the dark and selfish part of Evie wasn’t going to mind. On screen was the chat between Junie and Ty, and Evie did her best not to pry too much on past messages. It was best not to open [i]that[/i] can of worms. She cleared her throat instead, trying her best Queen Junie impersonation she could muster before typing and speaking aloud.

[color=7cc8d0]"Hey Elliot, wink, last night I had such a good time. We should meet up again, kissy lips,"[/color] She looked at Elliot, hoping he’d be fine with it before she’d press the send key.

She asked for his advice and totally threw it out the window. Elliot let out a small huff as he unwrapped the plastic straw of his cranberry juice and poked it into the small box. He didn't think it seemed desperate to text someone first but then again he'd never been in a relationship before, so what did he know? It did feel good though to hear Evie agree with him, made him think that maybe he wasn't a lost case in the romance department. It was also interesting to see how easy Junie caved after hearing Evie give her two cents, why did girls always need second opinions?

He shrugged when Junie asked what to send, he had no clue and texted only a few people regularly. Elliot was interested in what Evie had planned, lord knows he'd heard more than enough of her shenanigans to imagine. Though when she recited the message out loud the boy practically choked on the red juice he was drinking, coughing as he tried to protest. It was too late though and the message had been sent, [color=f6989d]"You guys are going to get me killed!"[/color] He finally sputtered, images of him getting beaten to a pulp flashing through his head. Maybe the guy wouldn't care...oh but what if he told people and then rumors started floating around and all the girls would think he slept around and then no one wanted him - The list kept going on and on as the poor boy slowly began to spiral, though the two girls couldn't see it.

Chewing silently, Junie gleamed in amusement. While Evie’s method was vastly out of character for her, Junie was curious how exactly Ty would react. Before either of them could say their thoughts, or while Elliot was being adorable in an anxious, uncomfortable kind of way, Evie got carried away and sent the text. Shrugging, Junie swallowed her food, grabbed her napkin, and patted her lips.  [color=ffa791]"If anyone is going to die first, I’ll make sure it’s not you two.”[/color] Leaning in, her blue, kittenish gaze resting on Elliot’s face, she playfully simpered,  [color=ffa791]"Looks like we’re pretend lovers. We should have brunch more often.”[/color] 

Pleased with how things turned out, forgetting all about her ruined homework, she elegantly threw her hair behind her shoulder and gave Evie an appreciative and delightful grin, [color=ffa791]"You’re right, Evie, sweetie, your friend is [i]super cool[/i]. I think I’ll keep him.”[/color] 

He was like a deer in headlights, eyes wide as he just stared at the two girls. After a few moments he just gave a sigh of defeat, there wasn't much he could do at this point. Though when Junie said they were pretend lovers his face became intensely red, [color=f6989d]"This will all go away in a few days."[/color] He couldn't deny that it kind of felt good to have people like him, he'd always been such an awkward and nervous guy that people thought he was weird. He pushed his drooping glasses up higher on his nose, crumbling up the paper wrapper his sandwich had been in. 

[color=f6989d]"Girls are crazy."[/color] 


[/indent][/indent][/color]