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[/b][/h3][/sup][/color][/row][row][cell][sup][h2][color=black]OLLIE OKONEDO[/color][/h2][/sup]
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[sup][color=black][b]█  [sup]   [/sup]act one: way down we go     [/b][/color][/sup][indent][sup][color=a9a9a9]Okonedo Residence [color=black]▸[/color] Ritman High [Football Field]
Interacting with [@Benzaiten][@udonoodles][@Gisk], everyone present
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[color=silver][sub]

	
[h3]O K O N E D O     R E S I D E N C E[/h3]
	
	That gossamer heart of his was beating quickly as he looked at the group messages on his mobile and frowned to himself. Oleander was running late for the reunion at the Ritman and by the current time, he'd probably already missed the pre-game session at PJs dive bar too. In truth, he had only arrived back in Delton an hour prior, just as the last hints of daylight withdrew from the rising moon. Delton was a small town, a bit ways from any major city and devoid of too much lamplight, filling the quaint town with the faint sparkles of stardust. You couldn't get this kind of night view in Portland.

	When Oleander arrived at his childhood home by taxi, he opened the front door with his spare key and entered slowly, lugging his single luggage bag behind him. The flight from D.C. left him feeling mildly fatigued, but he wiped at his eyes wearily and looked around the house for any signs of family, relieved to at least have made it there safely. It was gratitude for the little things that carried him. He called out once, noticing that only a few lights through the house were on. No response. Oleander smiled at the sight of the family dog and cat (Rocco and Poppy) nestled together asleep on the sofa; heavy sleepers they were. He called out louder this time, at last receiving a reply from his older sister, Samara.

	[color=bc8dbf]"Oleander?!"[/color] she yelled from down in the basement. [color=black]"Yeah!"[/color] he replied in jest. [color=bc8dbf]"Down in the basement. Hurry up and look at this!"[/color] His sister's voice trailed off, muffled by laughter that echoed up as he opened the basement door and peered down into the cellar. It smelled like old paint and wood, same as always.

	When he rounded the corner, he saw Samara and his younger teenage brother, Enoch, rifling through an old photo album they pulled out of the nearby 50s era console. Oleander waved at them when they looked up and before they could protest, he threw his body on them so he was laying across their laps like a wood plank. Enoch made a grunting noise, [color=8882be]"Too heavy..."[/color] and Samara tried to nudge him to the floor, but he wouldn't budge. [color=bc8dbf]"I see you made it in one piece––with a few extra pounds in tow."[/color]

	Oleander huffed at her, [color=black]"Lies."[/color] 

	[color=bc8dbf]"How was your flight?"[/color]
	
	Oleander, still laying across his siblings, shrugged, [color=black]"It was okay I guess. Where's ma and pa?"[/color]
	
	Enoch sneezed and then pushed his glasses back up his nose, [color=8882be]"On vacation in Nigeria visiting our African brethren, or, something like that."[/color] Oleander's face went a bit sour, like he'd been slighted somehow. [color=black]"They didn't tell me about that. What the hell..."[/color] Samara pulled her arms from under Oleander's body and laid them across his back, [color=bc8dbf]"Well, it was a last minute thing."[/color] she explained, [color=bc8dbf]"Ma was feeling really homesick, so they just up and left."[/color] Samara stared at him for a moment, reading his expression, [color=bc8dbf]"Oh, so we not good enough?"[/color] 

	Oleander sighed, disappointment seared into his countenance [color=black]"I talk to you guys all the time. Besides, its not the same. Anyways..."[/color]

	Samara gave him a slanted look, [color=bc8dbf]"Mmhmm..."[/color]

	[color=black]"What was it that you wanted to show me?"[/color] Enoch sneezed again, causing Oleander to stir in shock. Samara pulled his ear, [color=a187be]"You're laying on it dipshit."[/color] 

	[color=black]"Oh."[/color] Oleander sat up and then squished himself between Samara and Enoch. The latter plopped an old photobook on his lap, and then pointed to an image of their parents in some kind of mid 80s getup. Oleander let out a laugh, [color=black]"Oh, that is funny."[/color] Enoched joined in on the laughter, [color=8882be]"Right? I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that!"[/color] 

	Oleander cocked his head a bit, looking at the picture from another angle, smiling, [color=black]"I don't know. I think it's totally lunarious."[/color] Enoch furrowed his brows, [color=8882be]"Lunarious? That's not a thing. Nobody says that."[/color] [color=black]"I do, clearly."[/color] They bantered for a bit while Samara looked at her phone. Eventually, she stood up and softly kicked his leg with her foot, [color=bc8dbf]"Aren't you gonna be late for your thing?"[/color]

	[color=black]"Right! Thanks sis!"[/color] Oleander exclaimed, making for the basement stairs when Samara grabbed his wrist, a look of concern present. [color=bc8dbf]"Wait."[/color]

	[color=black]"Hmm?"[/color] he murmured, confused. [color=bc8dbf]"You gonna be okay?"[/color] she asked. Oleander paused for a moment, trying to glean what she could of meant. He nodded, [color=black]"Ugh, yeah. I think so. Why do you ask?"[/color] A weird silence lingered between them, as though Samara had something she desperately wanted to say, but held her tongue, possibly for his sake. She cleared her throat, looking slightly guilty, though Oleander didn't catch on, [color=bc8dbf]"Err...no reason. Just thought it might be awkward, or whatever. You haven't seen that gu...I mean...those people in a while. And I know how much that school meant to you."[/color] 

	Oleander's gaze softened as he let out a chuckle, pulling his sister in for a warm embrace. [color=black]"I'll be fine. But I appreciate your concern, Samara. It'll be like any other high school reunion; laughter, maybe a few tears, moonlight reminiscing, the usual stuff. Nothing weird."[/color] Oleander let go of his sister, giving her one last parting smile as he made his way up the stairs. When he reached the top, he turned back to see Samara watching him, the concern lingering still. He crossed his fingers and winked, [color=black]"Well, fingers crossed."[/color]




[h3]R I T M A N     H I G H     F O O T B A L L     F I E L D[/h3]

	Oleander steeled himself for the rendezvous. He hadn't seen these people in ages, and the idea of meeting them after so much time had left him feeling equal parts anxious and jovial. While he was excited to see some people more than others, he didn't hold any ill will towards anyone and would put his best foot forward to maintain the image he had always presented on the surface; kind, sociable, and cheerful. The undesirables were to be tucked away, but he was never quite good at that in full.

	Commandeering his sister's car, he made his way to the high school, popping a grape into his mouth; stolen from his parent's fridge. At the red light, he sent a text to the group chat.




[center][quote][sub][color=black]𝚂𝚘 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙸'𝚖 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎! 𝙸'𝚖 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚛. 𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚖𝚎.[/color] 🐶 [/sub][/quote][/center]

	When he arrived at Ritman, he took a deep breath, taking in the scene. It didn't seem all that spectacular. Just some run-down school destined for decimation. Most people wouldn't have bat an eye. But Oleander took in how the fence was all rusty and he saw the weathered brick, and the school flag, dancing upon the brisk wind. He pulled his coat tighter against his slim frame, and patted the scarf that warmed his neck. He became a bit bleary-eyed, though perhaps it was just the cold air, he surmised. 

	As he rounded the corner of the school, he paused. He saw everyone standing in the field and his mouth dropped in awe. Oleander really did not expect to see these people again at all. The shock of the moment filled his body with a familiarity. Even if he wasn't super close with everyone, just the mere fact that he was here again was surreal, something ephemeral he told himself to cherish while it lasted. As Oleander moved closer, the field light illuminating him, he put up two peace signs and waved them back and forth near his face in a cute sort of way, [color=black]"Hiiii..."[/color] he said warmly to everyone, [color=black]"I cannot believe we're meeting again after all this time. This is soooooo weird."[/color] Oleander laughed shyly, putting his hands against his cheeks. 

	[color=black]"Okay, I need hugs. I need hugs."[/color] 

	He walked around to everyone, giving them a hug if they allowed, otherwise, just dapping them or shaking their hand, or whatever they were comfortable with. Melanie got an extra strength hug though. She was someone he was always fond of, despite them not getting super close. Oleander stared at her face for a moment, tilting his head curiously, and then chuckled, wiping at her cheek with the sleeve of his jacket, [color=black]"You had a smudge on your cheek"[/color], Oleander explained, smiling tenderly.

	Samuel stood out to him in particular, having slimmed down so much and covered in tattoos, he was almost unrecognizable. The thoughts of the past flooded him and he wished he had done more to befriend Samuel instead of listening to his mother. Trystan grew his hair out, which actually looked nice, Oleander thought. Natalie and Meir looked about the same, just more matured. When he got around to Marco, Oleander paused, taking in the visuals. Marco was still as handsome as ever, moreso now as his grew into his sharp features. But the cane threw him off. It wasn't often that Oleander saw someone so young with a walking stick, so he couldn't help but show a little sadness in his eyes. He laid his hand on Marco's arm, rubbing it softly, [color=black]"I hope you've been well, Marco."[/color] There was a tingle that rippled through him, one very reminiscent of his days at Ritman.

	When Oleander finally got to Billy, he tried to hold his composure, [color=black]"Billy!"[/color] he exclaimed cheerfully, wrapping his arms around his old bestfriend's neck and giving him the warmest hug of them all. They were always really affectionate and sweet with each other during high school, so this hug felt particularly comfy, cozy, and familiar. Not to mention, they had shared a certain spark, even if neither of them were brave enough to confess it to each other back then.

	[color=black]"It's so nice to see you again. I kid you not, I was just thinking about you the other day." [/color]

	When he leaned back from the hug, there were tears trickling down his cheeks; they almost twinkled like tiny little crystals. Oleander quickly wiped at them, embarrassed, [color=black]"Oh noooo..."[/color] he started, chuckling through the tears, [color=black]"I can't believe I'm crying right now.[/color]" He let out another laugh, wiping with the back of his palms, [color=black]"This is why I hate being a crybaby. I'm so sorry guys, just ignore me. I'm being rediculous."[/color] Honestly though, Billy was one of his only true friends and Oleander was so sad when they departed after graduation. Not to mention, the very essence of this meeting was nostalgic and wistful.

	Childhood friends reunited in their old quaint little town. A school of memories scheduled for demolition. A time capsule and hidden feelings simmering to the surface. It was movie scene made flesh. 

	People always said Oleander was a bit melodramatic, too emotional for his own good, but he couldn't help it. Plus, he hadn't seen Billy or the school, or everyone else for that matter in almost a decade. Wasn't that a good enough reason to shed a few tears? Oleander was a quintessential sentimental softboy after all; it was in his nature.

	He fanned his face, calming down, a deep breath helping to reform his emotional constitution. [color=black]"Wow, okay. Anyways, who's missing?"[/color]





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[color=ed1c24]NOTE:[/color] Feel free to skip the OKONEDO RESIDENCE section if you don't want to read any of what went down before Oleander arrived at the football field. I couldn't put it in hiders without it glitching out, sorry.