[IC] Rosefell High.

[AlteredTundra]

As soon as she had started talking, Cami went into full attention mode. She tried not to stare but with her eyes dead set on just taking in the amazon that stood in front of her and Lud, she couldn’t help but do exactly that. Those blonde locks, eyes bluer than a clear sky on a summer afternoon, and just...everything that Aria had going on was hitting all of the right cords. She was obviously not out but Camila wasn’t an idiot. She picked up on things and there was something about the way Aria’s face lit up when she realized Cami was here.

But the question that should be asked was is Cami ready to put herself out there like Aria seems to be? Of course, she didn’t want to assume. Maybe she was reading all of the wrong queues and if she took a step forward in that general direction, she could be making a fool of herself. Or maybe she wasn’t misreading anything and she might be able to get some of her questions answered.

In the midst of her mentaldown, Camila realized that Ludvig just excused himself. “Wai--” She was cut off as he quickly excused himself. Not that she was entirely disappointed her best friend decided to leave her alone with Wonder Girl, the immense gut-wrenching feelings she was experiencing before increased nearly tenfold when the realization that it was just her and Aria set in.

And that absolutely terrified the usually confident, nearly-iron willed Camila DeLuca. “O-oh thanks! You look good too!” She smiled, brushing a few strands of her hair behind her left ear. “Oh, thank you but I think I’m set,” she looked at her half-empty cup. It wasn’t as full as she remembered. “So, how are you? I mean, with all of the preparations for the party, were you able to enjoy this week at all?” Camila was never good at small talk but she at least tried for the sake of moving past the incredibly awkward stage right exit that Ludvig took.

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How close was he really? Just how close was Ricky Quinn from smacking Alex’s camera out of his hands? It would be entertaining to say the least. It would put Alex in quite the dilemma. He wouldn't indulge himself as that one boy who takes everyone’s pictures. He would be left as exactly what Ricky said he was: a nobody. Sure, it might make certain people be wary of him more, but if there was one thing he didn’t care about, it was their opinions. RIcky never gave a damn about what people thought about him before and he sure as hell wouldn’t after he hypothetically broke that probably very expensive camera.

As he was probably moments from doing just that, the teen found himself temporarily -- or permanently, depending on how one views the circumstances -- halted by the screeching greeting from a familiar face. ALthough he had to lower his head a few inches, he saw her.

Probably one of the few people (not counting Lucky) who could make him genuinely smile, Lana was quite something special. He knew very well about her and Alex, or at least what he suspected. It wasn’t his business if they were involved in whatever way. He didn’t have enough interest in who Lana Kingley decided to allow within her personal space. It wasn’t his business to question who she decided to take an interest in. They were old friends and on some level, Ricky cherished that. A lot of people side-eye him when they pass him in the hall (sometimes with good reason), but her? She’s always remained the same towards him. She never let that get in the way of how she approached him (the opinions of everyone else be damned, right?)

Ricky exhaled an slightly entertained breath. “Little Lana,” he acknowledged her presence. “You’re as loud as ever. Glad to see not everything about you has changed.” Ricky shot Alex a quick glance, smirking. “I suppose it has. You’ve been busy with …other things.” He paused for a moment as he made her the sole recipient of his attention. “But yes, I’m doing good. Trying to enjoy this party as much as I ca-”

As Ricky had actually intended on being nice to someone -- admittedly someone who he had a gigantic bias towards -- the sudden explosion in the lake prompted him to curse to himself (although Lana and ALex probably heard a few F-Bombs leave his lips), he was curious and sent his gaze to observe from a distance. His sour expression soon turned into a genuine big fucking grin as he saw his partner in crime, his ride or die, his motherfucking brother from detention, Lucky Fucking Cross.

“Oh, now the party just got interesting!” Ricky commented, wolf howling at his homie from across the way. Ricky smiled like a boy who was given his toy gun for Christmas. “YO, Lucky! How the fuck you gonna come and not give me a holler, huh!?” Ricky shouted as loudly as he could, turning to Alana with a pumped up vibe about him. “Lana, have you ever played beer pong before? And if not, it’s an easy game to learn. You just shoot the white ball into a cup. Simple enough, right?” Ricky waited for no response but simply tugged at her arm as though the energy of the party suddenly took an interesting turn but specifically, the party animal in Ricky was about to come out and play.

[Hellion]

Watching Ricky's behavior shift around Lana was quite funny, as it always felt though she had the guy's balls in a vice grip, whether she wanted them or not. But Alex knew they had a history as long-time friends, and that was certainly not something he ever wanted to get between. As much as he didn't show it though, Ricky definitely had a way of irritating people he came into contact with, and Alex wasn't the exception. He really didn't like him, but he also knew the asshole didn't care if anyone liked him. The photographer wanted to pity him, but there just wasn't room for that at the moment.

The multiple explosions from the roman candle caught Alex off guard, as it did most others no doubt, and he took a single step back, almost tripping over the large stone behind him. Yeah, that was all he needed. To fall on his ass in front of Ricky and Lana, while simultaneously cracking the camera lens. As Alex composed himself from a near-disaster, Ricky busted out with a fairly convincing "teen wolf" howl, which was directed toward the kid who fired off the roman candle moments earlier. Was it Lucky? He wasn't sure, but anyone with a name like that was like a recipe for trouble.

Alex looked over in Alana's direction at Ricky's mention of "beer pong", and was fairly certain the girl wouldn't even bother with a ridiculous party game like that. Or would she? Fuck. The young man thought, wanting to shake his head in protest, in hopes that she would refuse the offer, but again, was it really his place to separate friends? Skirting around the truth was beginning to take a toll on things as well, because while they chose to keep it discrete, it also meant the rest of the world would be pulling them apart without even knowing it.

[AlteredTundra]

_{w i t h}

_{(Outfit of the day in gif)}

Senior Year at any regular school might’ve been a pretty big deal. College prep on the minds of everyone, relationships entering their “make or break” stage (a.k.a. the point where lover decide to stick it out past graduation or call it quits at that final party), and, of course everyone’s favorite part, the exams. Oh, the exams! Every teacher who wasn’t part of the art department (we all saw how disasterrific that assembly was) were going to put the students through academic hell.

But Senior Year at Rosefell? Oh, that was much worse. Exams and relationship failures took a backseat to stabbings, gang activity, and attempted murder -- and that was only if it was on a slow day. Everyone had a lot of shit on their minds and it was so very dramatic. Nobody knew how to chill. They only saw the bad that life produced. Whether it was Jordan Ross doing whatever it was Jordan Ross felt like doing or the many, many, many failed attempts Richard Brian gave to try and get Missy Elliot’s time of day (don’t ever call her that if you like breathing).

It was just too much for some people, in which the “some” was only one person; and this one person knew how to keep the good vibes rolling. If when everyone else failed to keep the party going, even when those who decided to cause trouble or stir the pot with existing trouble tea about to boil over, Nathaniel Blake knew just how to make everyone smile.

He knew what people thought of him. He knew that how he held himself and how unnervingly positive he remained even when they called him lame, an idiot, and a waste of space, Nate knew that he couldn’t let anyone do get him down. He knew that he had to keep up the high spirits. He held no ill will for those who might criticize him for how he lived his life. IF they were beefing with him, then that was on them but no way was Nate going to let their Negative Nancy energy get in the way of him enjoying himself (wherever that might be).

As Nate pulled up in his mother’s beaten up jeep, a car that was able to go the distance as long as you didn’t push her too hard or too fast. He might’ve arrived at the party a little later than he had hoped, but he knew he would make it to his destination. He never had any doubt!

Once the jeep was parked and once he did a decent scan of the party, he saw a lot of familiar faces and a lot of them belonged to people he liked to think were his friends. Grooving to the music in his head, he spotted others like that new girl Cami and the blonde goddess herself, Aria talking a bit away. When he saw who was probably perfection personified, he knew this would be his night.

“Her. She needs to see my sick moves!” Nate nodded to himself repeatedly as he knew this meant for a special occasion. And what exactly did Nathaniel Blake do for special occasions? He brought out his special weapon.

As he quickly removed himself from the jeep and pulled out a seemingly normal portable boombox-looking object, it was the right size. It was smaller than most were. Compact. He could place it on his shoulder and it wouldn’t impede his movement that much. Most were around twelve pounds, but the one that Nate held in his hand by the handle was about five pounds (give or take). It was fitted with a smartphone feature that would play anything from his Spotify.

Before anyone around him would know it, as Nate The Great, who was sporting his trademark beige and red fedora (no sunglasses since it was, well dark out), a sleeveless light blue shirt, and Hawaiian swim trunks/shorts that served as swimming trunks, he was grooving to the bumpin, funky tunes of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk. He played it loud enough so that he could hear it over the increasingly loud beats the rest of the party was hearing. But he didn’t care! Nate the Great was a man on a mission!

Nate wasn’t the type to know limits. He had it in him to make grand gestures, to make those sort of statements that were bold and probably impractical (not to mention unrealistic). He also loved rather simply. When he crushed on someone, it was known and felt from a mile away. Because he wasn’t one to be subtle about it, sometimes that put people off but for some who were so laidback, so chill, and so-so-so beautiful like Tyra Washington, how could he not be just a bit smitten with her. She carried that beautiful head of hair on her shoulders with confidence that Nate couldn’t imagine having without some weed. He didn’t know if she used but what he knew he lacked, somehow it rose to the surface whenever he happened to be near her.

“This one’s for Tyra,” he muttered to himself, letting the flow of the uptown funk carry him into the company of RIch, Sam, and Tyra. “Wassup ladies and Richie!” Nate placed his boombox on the ground, leaning against whatever was closest as his eyes wouldn’t leave Tyra’s (but obviously not in a creepy way). Doing his best to be chill, he played his next move as smoothly as he could. “So, Tyra, feel like a dance?” He asked, half-smirking. He hoped to god he was coming off as charming and not at all creepy like Joe Goldberg.

[spooner]

Minty couldn’t help but roll her eyes and sigh deeply at Eli’s comment. “Oh, would you give it a rest?!” she complained. The dark-haired girl raised an eyebrow at her bespectacled friend “Don’t you think that our girl can handle herself?” she asked turning her attention back to the small group. An uneasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach as she watched the scene unfold. “Come on! Let’s go back her up…” she let out another small sigh as the pair started to walk over.

When they arrived Minty made a motion to defuse whatever situation that was going down. But before she could something swooshed by and exploded near the lakeshore. Aramintah covered her ears and swore loudly as she pressed her self closer to Eli for protection. “Shit! What the hell was that?!” she spun around to look where the object came from. Realization washed over her when she saw the trio that was walking towards them.

“Hey Lucky! I’m down for some beer pong!” Minty exclaimed putting up her hand excitedly. She patted Elijah on the shoulder silently asking him to come along. She quickly grabbed the shot out of Chase’s hand taking it and throwing the plastic shot glass on the ground. “Oh hey, Chase… long time no see.” she purred as she passed the boy letting her hand slide slowly across his chest, the girl winked cheekily before she stopped right in front of Lucky.

“I’m up against whoever wins! Ok?” she stated putting her hands on her hips with a wide grin.

[Hedgehawk]

---

Jordan & Tace

---

Jordan had left Hendrik to his own devices, the idea of having to pay for his knowledge had left somewhat of a stink in his mouth. It was possibly the worst kind of insult you could give the male. However right now he had another job. He had been checking his watch casually most of the night, waiting for the clock to show a certain time.

That certain time had finally arrived. Throughout the week, Jordan had been asked if he was willing to become a buddy to one of the newer more vulnerable students. Why the school thought Jordan would be a good match for this was beyond him. Normally he would say no, however this time, he decided to go along with it. He had thought that perhaps he could manipulate this new girl into a new spy for him. He had spent the first week showing her around and showing her to her classes and taking the effort to actually be friendly. He couldn't be himself just yet. He needed to get her inside before his fellow seniors turned her against him. He had made his way to the entrance of the party, eagerly waiting to see if she was going to turn up at the agreed time.

Her first few days at Rosefell had been, quiet. Though she thanked the lord for that. Students hadn't really taken much notice of Tace, perhaps because they were busy trying to make new friends or catch up with old ones, that she just gladly blended into the background. Although, she hadn't escaped everyone. Jordan seemed nice enough, he had shown her around the labyrinth, but even that hadn't stopped her from getting lost on her way to the toilets.

Tace was hesitant about the party today the least, she had never been to such a gathering full of people her own age. In fact the only time she been to parties, or other gatherings she had always been accompanied by her parents and elder brothers, so to say she was anxious, well that was another thing. Pulling on her red zipper Tace left a note to her uncle, explaining she would be out before leaving the house to head to the Late Party.

With her hands stuffed in her pockets, the young student let out a quiet sigh, she would of been better off staying in. What no one knew was she was pregnant, and if she could, no one would know until she was showing. But by then, who would want to be friends with someone who was having a baby, a teen mom. She wouldn't be able to join them in parties, shopping or regular stuff; and if her parents had their way she would be back in the South without the baby. Like nothing had ever happened.

Coming up to the address, Tace began to chew anxiously on her lower lip, her dark eyes glancing around before they finally set up on Jordan. He relieved her actually, seeing him wait for her outside
"Jordan, hey.." she spoke, making her way over to him with a small but nervous smile, "I hope you wasn't waiting too long."

"Too long? Nah. Honestly, I only arrived shortly myself. People are still pouring in." Years of drama and acting lessons had given Jordan quite the insight into body language. Jordan could easily tell that Tace was on edge about being here. That made her all the more vulnerable, making it far easier for Jordan to make her dependent on him. If only everyone else had been this easy.

The duo would start walking into the party proper, and Jordan would give off a big goofy smile as he held out his arms. "So here we are: A high school party! So tell me Tace: Did you enjoy your first week in Rosefell?"

Listening quietly, Tace was relieved to hear that he hadn't been waiting too long for her, she was always one to either be on time or at least early. Although hearing that not everyone had arrived, she couldn't be so sure if that was a good or bad thing. Would it be easier to be thrown into the deep end?

Following Jordan into the party, Tace watched his actions quietly; if not curious. Fiddling with the sleeve of her jacket, her brow arched slightly he was quite dramatic. Over- dramatic if you asked her. Though no one was. The way he exclaimed about the party he made it out to be some kind of special event, and not just a night of underage drinking. Was that a special event?

"It wasn't all that eventful" She admitted, probably immediately losing his interest right there; "I think it's safe to say the new girl cliche is long gone" Tace said with a small laugh.

"It is your first time in a new school, of course it is going to feel weird. An uneventful week was actually the best thing you could have hoped for." In secret, Jordan was somewhat envious of Tace. No one knew who she was and no one had any preheld misconceptions of what she was like. Jordan couldn't do that anymore. Whenever he appeared, everyone was in their guard, watching what they said and how they acted.

"Anyway. Let's start showing you around to everyone. Don't worry, you aren't going to need to talk to them. I am going to point them out." He began to spin on his heels, , scanning the party and the groups that had arrived. Eventually he settled on a group and pointed towards them.

"Right over there you have Ricky and Alex. Ricky is the one who looks like shit and Alex is the one who looks like an angel. Generally you want to avoid Ricky… People call him Pricky Ricky for a reason. With that, Jordan reeled his arm back so he didn't just look like a weirdo pointing directly at people. "Alex is the school photographer kid. He takes alot pictures of me and for me and is cute… Good, I mean good with a camera" Jordan laughed, trying to defect the fact he had stumbled and called Alex cute. Perhaps Tace was too dense to notice.

Tace nodded ever so slightly in agreement, in fact Jordan probably couldn't be any more correct. It was funny, she always wanted to go to school, make friends and just be like a normal teenager; but now the time had come she had almost suffered from a fair few panic attacks. "Perhaps, it's just, a lot different than I imagined it to be"

Watching the way the freckled boy pointed out a couple of students, Tace's brows knitted together ever so slightly, he was bitchy. From just the way he introduced Ricky, she could gather that much. I mean, there had to be a good reason he had been accustomed to that nickname, but still, first impressions.

Tilting her head ever so slightly to the side as he pointed out the photographer, Tace glanced him up and down, before her dark eyes shifted back to the boy beside her, " Yes, I suppose he is." she replied, rather nonchalantly before tucking a lock of hair back behind her ear.

Jordan scrunched his face as he she agreed that Alex was cute. So she did notice. Still. Perhaps it was time to move on. "Well over in that direction we have Hendrik. Don't know much bout him, he is a new guy like you. So I would be cautious around him. But that is just me." With that Jordan smiled and turned around to show her a few more people. "Right, over there is Aria. She is the host of the party. Most of the social events during the year are organised by her. She is actually quite approachable" Jordan would calmly comment.

"I know this party might seem scary. But no one means you any ill at this party. Just avoid Ricky and also Melissa" He specifically went out of his way to point the woman out. "She is the Head Cheerleader. So I am guessing I don't need to go into detail as to what she is like…

A small slightly triumph smile crossed over Tace's lips as she watched the way Jordan scrunched his face. One thing the young girl had learnt with three brothers was to observe everything, from surroundings to people's behaviour. Hendrik? Like her was new, perhaps it would do some good getting to know him, both being new it might ease their stress ever so slightly.

"Well, I suppose it's better late than never to get to know someone.." she noted before glancing back over to Jordan, highly doubtful he would want her clinging to his side after next week. Again she began to fiddle nervously with the sleeve of her hoodie. A nervous habit.

Jordan was about to speak again when he noticed Lucky arriving on the scene. And here he was hoping to have a quiet night. Jordan carefully got his phone out, casually turning on the video camera and recording Lucky very carefully. He was acting all loud and bratish and was sure to do something stupid. And as if right on que, he lit off that roman candle. Fireworks… it had to be fireworks. Still, Jordan had filmed it all and slid the phone back into his pocket. He would deal with that later.
For now, Jordan felt slightly protective over Tace, who he could see was getting nervous. He needed to give her someone to anchor too. Scanning around, he quickly saw Alex. Grabbing Tace by the hand he would guide them towards Alex, realising he had his own problems right now, Jordan kind of felt bad just jumping him like his.

”Hey Alex, got a new girl to introduce you to. This is Tace. Shy girl. Not sure if you would have noticed her around this week?”

[twannyman]

Hendrik

After Jordan had left, Hendrik decided to go further into the party. Mainly grabbing drinks and chilling with people. Speaking up wouldn't be something he did really, he just sat and listened. Hendrik was in all honesty awaiting for something to happen, something bigger or something more exiting. Hendrik himself was already considering to jump into the lake and make his presence as a new guy known. Doing something that big would most likely garner him attention, but he still wanted to find someone to join him. Doing it alone would make it weird, doing it with others would make it a loooot less weird.

Thus Hendrik set out, asking people if they would be crazy enough to join him in jumping into the lake, however sadly to no success. Until now nobody had been wanting to join him. Hendrik was looking around him, checking if there would be others at the party who seemed interesting.