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[sub][right]Interacting with: Lila Peterson
Mentions: Elias Peterson [@Stryder BC][/right][/sub]

While most of Pines’ residents loved the fair, Delia couldn’t wait to get as far away from it as possible. Once the band had wrapped up, swapped pleasantries and congratulated themselves for how great they sounded, Delia dipped. She, for one, was not going to waste her night with overpriced food and rigged games. No, she was going to take advantage of the lack of authority presence literally anywhere else in town. And she wasn’t doing that alone.

By the time Delia was approaching the community centre, duffel bag stuffed full of cans clanging against each other, Lila was already leisurely waiting against one of the trees that surrounded the place. She had a book in her hand that Delia couldn't quite make out. [color=bafaff]”You took your time,”[/color] Lila states simply, unmoving from her spot.

[color=90EE90]”And you missed the only good thing about that damn fair.”[/color] Delia shoots back, closing the gap and meeting Lila where she stood. Delia didn't notice the weight of disgruntlement she was holding until now that she was in the clear. She gave her friend a smile.  [color=90EE90]”Whacha readin’?”[/color]

Lila gave a half joking roll of the eyes. [color=bafaff]”You would’ve rocked it whether or not I was there to see.”[/color] She lowers the book in her hand. [color=bafaff]”Some self help book Joey's trying to get me on. Literally no different to all others. Get better sleep, set healthy boundaries, [i]practice gratitude[/i].”[/color]

Delia gave a snort, adjusting the position of the heavy duffel bag. [color=90EE90]”Screw that. I say let out your emotions with spray paint and let your therapist be good ole liquor and THC.”[/color]

Lila gave a musical chuckle as she placed her book away. Lila had the most beautiful laugh, at least in Delia's opinion. [color=bafaff]”Y'know what, Dee, you might be onto the best self help book yet. Save me a copy when you write it.”[/color]

Delia gives a chuckle as she turns to the desolate centre before them. It was as dead and washed out as the rest of the town. It’s white paint peeling- some parts exposing the plaster underneath. There was the occasional pathetic attempt of graffitied tags, some of which Delia knew she was guilty of. She would have done this place sooner if she hadn’t nearly been caught on multiple occasions. [color=90EE90]”Yikes.”[/color]

[color=bafaff]”Good thing we’re here to fix it, hey?”[/color] Her friend’s statement prompted Delia’s trademark mischievous smile to spread across her face. The pair had this in the works for weeks. They knew what they were going to paint, the location- and the risks. 

[color=90EE90]”Look at us doing some community service for once.”[/color] She pulls a white spray can out of her bag and throws it in the air. It spins a couple of times before she holds it out to the other young woman who grabs the can with glee. 

[hr]

Even though part of her expected it, Delia was impressed the authorities had stayed off their backs for the couple of hours they worked on their piece. The 2 young women stood back with paint covered hands in awe of the mural; a tree whose branches turned into bars of a cage that held two small yellow birds. Simplistic flying birds exited to the side, scribbled lines around the mural showcasing the feeling of being suffocated. Delia reckoned it was one of her best works. 

She looked over at her friend who seemed memorised by the piece- as if she didn't have a hand in painting it. [color=90EE90]”Race you to the roof!”[/color] Delia calls out before running at the wall. 

The centre was only a single storey building. The roof had no spires, no view, nothing of interest but Delia always felt safer high up, as if her issues couldn't fly.  She launches herself up toward a window, using the exterior sill to get her to the roof. Once she arrived she sat on the edge of the roof, legs dangling off the edge. Lila took markedly longer to join her and obviously didn't find the climb as effortless as Delia.  

[color=90EE90]”You're gettin’ faster,”[/color] Delia compliments her friend, patting the ground- well roof- next to her. Lila acquiesced.

[color=bafaff]”Still, I don't think I'll ever come close to Pines’ own spidergirl,”[/color] Lila replies with a small smile. She pulls a blunt from her pocket and lights it up. After a first puff she holds it out to Delia who takes it gladly. 

She gives a chuckle in response before taking a long inhale of the blunt. A silence fell between them for a moment as they just soaked in the night together.  Delia passes the blunt back to her friend.  [color=90EE90]”So- your brother came up to me today.”[/color]

Lila gave a sigh, one that clearly said [i]I did not bring enough weed for this[/i] yet she still passed it to Delia after taking a puff. [color=bafaff]”Lemme guess, he asked you to drag me back home?”[/color]

[color=90EE90]”Not quite. But something like that. Says he misses you.”[/color] Delia takes another puff of the blunt and passes it back.  

Lila scoffs. [color=bafaff]”Didn’t miss me enough to come back in the years he was gone,”[/color] she gives a sigh, running a hand down her face. [color=bafaff]”It takes me days to mentally prepare to spend an hour in that place, De. It's why Joey has me on all these stupid self help books. I just-”[/color]

Delia furrows her brow as the woman speaks, confused as to why she was speaking as if Delia was going to drag her home kicking and screaming. [color=90EE90]”Lee- I ain't dragging you back home,”[/color] she reassures, placing a comforting arm around Lila's shoulder. 

[color=bafaff]”I know. I'm just preaching to the choir. Sorry.”[/color] Lila gave a sigh a she looked out into the night with that she expression Delia knew was her waiting for the high to kick in

[color=90EE90]”Have you told him you applied for Spring intake?”[/color]

[color=bafaff]”No.”[/color] Lila shoots back before Delia could say anything else. Lila gives another sigh as she runs a hand her face. [color=bafaff]”It's a bit hypocritical, I guess. I'm still mad at my brother yet I might be pulling the same stunt start of next year.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]”You're not leaving behind a scared pre-teen to fend for herself.”[/color] Delia responds, resting her head on Lila's shoulder. Lila's trademark scent of citrus and jasmine pleasantly danced in the air around her.

[color=bafaff]”Touché.”[/color] Lila tilted her head to rest on her friend for a moment before moving it back for another draw of the blunt. [color=bafaff]”I'm not sure what I'm more scared of happening. Them trying to talk me out of it so I can still be here with free time to play caregiver or them acting like I'm “cleaning up my act”. I'm still me and this-”[/color] she vaguely gestures around her- [color=bafaff]”-is still me. I can be this and have a degree.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]”Honestly, girl, do it the way you want. If you don't wanna say anything and just disappear I ain't gonna stop you. I'd do that myself.“[/color] Delia watched her friend's muscles relax. She knew it was likely the weed hitting and not her words of encouragement reaching that deep. The pair say in contemplative silence for a while. Contemplation turned into relaxation as the effects of their self medication efforts kicked in.  

Delia broke the silence. [color=90EE90]”I want pancakes, let's get to the diner.”[/color] With that, the young women made their way back to the ground and celebrated the rest of the night relatively crime free.