Ella grinned brightly, glad their entrance got the approval of both Kari and Lupe.
She slung one arm around Nora as they followed Lupe to the bar, a bounce in her step and a shake in her hips. After all, it wasn’t a party if she wasn’t dancing at least a little bit!
"Of course she takes us everywhere! Except, y’know, most of summer and all of the classes we don’t share cause she’s much smarter than me at least." Ella said brightly in answer to an earlier question that hadn’t even been directed towards her.
Her eyes widened as Lupe began pulling out all sorts of alcohol, before mixing it together. That was a lot of alcohol. But it was a
party. That was the time to drink!
Now, while Ella counted Lupe as a friend through virtue of her being friends with Kari and both being friendly in general, they didn’t actually know each other that well. Being in different years and different clubs meant opportunities to hang out were limited… But Ella knew she liked Lupe a lot! She’d trust her with her life! Probably.
So she was absolutely happy to drink whatever crazy concoction she mixed up. It was just a shame it wasn’t pink… But that wasn’t going to stop her having it!
"A magical girl never backs down from a challenge!" Ella declared, taking her cup with a grin and raising it dramatically into the air in contrast to Kari’s subtle raise.
"To the best school year and the bestest friends!" She tilted her head back, taking a massive first drink. By the time she was done half of the cup’s contents were gone. It had a bit of a kick to it, but it tasted mostly sweet. Like spicy fruit.
"Whoa, it’s so good? How’d you figure that out, Lupe?" She asked with a wide grin, taking another big gulp.
"Do you just mix stuff together till it turns out well… Like alchemy! Ooo, do you have any other house recipes? Any that are pink?" Then she glanced between her two much smaller close friends.
"And don’t you two worry… If you drink too much, I’ll carry you both home!" Interactions: Vicky
@AtrophyWarehouse, Bathroom
Most people would be surprised to see Victoria Prescott profusely sobbing- Tuyen had heard one or two girls whisper about how the only emotions she felt were glee and competitiveness (which wasn’t even an emotion). They hadn't realised Tuyen was there, otherwise they probably wouldn't have said it in front of her. But Tuyen had seen a Vicky most others didn't see before. She assumed she let down her walls like this in front of all her friends- or maybe it was just Tuyen, because she was such a pushover. She’d never tell anyone and even if she did, no one would listen to her.
And unlike most people, Tuyen didn’t feel any joy in Vicky’s sorrow. She just felt empathy.
Tuyen awkwardly hugged her back, trying not to stiffen up and desperately hoping Vicky couldn’t hear her heart beating faster than it should. If she didn’t, hopefully she’d just think Tuyen was anxious- No, that wasn’t much better, was it? She didn’t want Vicky to think she was anxious, because that could lead to her discovering just how insecure Tuyen felt. She couldn’t let that happen. The best thing to be there for her only friend, and pretend to be as happy as she always did.
She rubbed Vicky’s back comfortingly, albeit somewhat awkwardly. But she was relieved when Vicky pulled back, even if the scrutiny was almost as difficult to deal with. (thoughts)
Tuyen’s breathing evened out again as Vicky actually explained what happened around her sobs, even if it was incredibly muddled and didn’t go with the start of
“I broke up with—”. Tuyen didn’t question it. She was too focused on one thing to question it.
Vicky and Chef broke up.She hated that she felt more than just sadness and sympathy over it. But there was a small burst of hope, disgusting hope, about it. Not joy, at least. Even if she suppressed her own feelings towards Vicky, ones she desperately denied even to herself, she didn’t think it was entirely
bad. Chef may have been near the top of the school’s social hierarchy, but he wasn’t good enough for her. He wasn’t smart like she was, or as pretty as she was, or–
Tuyen clamped down on her thoughts, struggling to keep the conflict from her face. It flickered across her face before dying as it should.
“Why aren’t you more upset?” Tuyen’s breath caught in her throat. Had it been obvious? Did she
know? She did her best to school her mixed expression into one filled with sympathy, dragging up a little bit of the sadness she normally kept bottled up. And she was upset for her friend. Vicky didn’t deserve this, whatever had happened. But Tuyen did deserve the suspicion. What kind of friend got distracted at a moment like this? She couldn’t even support someone properly. At least Vicky was kind enough to not hold it against her.
Or just drunk enough to come to an incorrect conclusion.
”N-No, he doesn’t think that, at least he probably doesn’t,” Tuyen stammered out, taken by surprise by the question and the vehemence it was asked with. She didn’t know Tyler well enough to say for sure. But he seemed confident enough that if he thought Vicky loved him, he would have said something. But nothing about how they treated each other screamed
love. Not that Tuyen really knew what love looked like anymore.
”Someone like him wouldn’t keep quiet about something like that.”She fumbled in the pocket of her wide legged jeans, pulling out a tissue and holding it up to Vicky to take. If she was willing to let go of Tuyen’s shoulders, at least.
”I don’t think you're in love with Tyler. I know you aren’t… I understand what your relationship with him is like.” Though was she in love with Chef? Did that matter? It shouldn’t, as long as she was happy. It didn’t matter what Tuyen thought about it in the first place.
”I don’t think anyone thinks that… Probably. I’d probably have heard something. You know how people always say stuff around me… But I haven’t heard anything like that.”She was doing her best to comfort her, at least. Though she didn’t know what to say to help. Her own single breakup hadn’t helped with her barely existent self-confidence, but she hadn’t liked John. It wasn’t the same. What did she even say? She had to say more, at least, didn’t she?
”I’m so sorry, Vicky. You don’t deserve that. He’s lucky to- was lucky to- be with you,” she said quietly, trying her best to stay calm and present rather than shrinking away the longer Vicky held onto her shoulders and stared directly at her.
”I know it’s not the same as having him there, but I’ll stay with you the rest of the party. I won’t leave your side, I promise.”If she was being honest, Tuyen had hoped Vicky would get drunk enough to forget her existence but not so drunk that she was easily taken advantage of. Then there’d be no one to notice when Tuyen slipped out and home- though Vicky only cared because Tuyen was useful. But now she was clearly too drunk for Tuyen to even consider leaving her. She’d probably have to help her get home later… But that was fine. Stuff like this was why Tuyen had been asked to come along in the first place.
“Ugh, this is so lame. Why are we even at this shit ‘party’?” Corey Aquino, one of Lexi’s closest friends and her band’s drummer, groaned around a drag of his cigarette.
“Oh come off it, Corey, like you weren’t all excited thinking you could get with one of the popular girls when they’re sloppy.” Natasha Cooper, Lexi’s other closest friend and their guitarist, snorted. Her eyes narrowed at him, crimson eyeshadow vibrant against her dark skin. She ran one hand through her box braids, which went from black at the roots to bright red at the tips, brandishing a finger at him. “But you just can’t be bothered to wait around for the booze to get to them, huh? Impatient ass.”
“I've already slept with popular girls, there’s nothing to be impatient about!”
“Gwen doesn't count. She only did it cause that slappy burger guy dumped her. That was a pity fuck.”
“Like fuck it was. Tell her, Lex, I'm a catch.”
Lexi laughed under her breath, quite happy to let her friends chat shit while she smoked. She was half paying attention to them, half watching the door for anything interesting going on. She was dressed to make an impression, with a dark red corset crop top and a tight black leather skirt over fishnets. Her slightly oversized leather jacket was slung over her shoulders, keeping off the early autumnal chill while still showing off the figure enhancing outfit underneath. Her dyed black hair was left loose as normal, falling in messy waves past her shoulders.
She leaned against the grungy brick wall of the warehouse to the right of the door, near the corner that the rest of their group was gathered at to smoke. There was about eight of them, with the closest and lead trio near enough to the door to clearly see whoever was going in and out. They weren’t smoking outside out of respect for the people inside, obviously. No, it was so she didn’t have to deal with people wanting some of the ecstasy in her pocket.
“As a pity fuck, I guess.” She shrugged, blood red lips pulling up into a taunting smile. It was broken as she took a swig from a large plastic bottle, filled with a fifty-fifty mix of vodka and coke. She wasn’t dealing with fighting other teens for alcohol at the shitty makeshift bar this early into the night.
“Stop being a bitch, I know you’re lying through your teeth.” Corey shot back, smile matching hers. It was why she was friends with him, after all- why she was friends with both of them. They gave back as good as they got without actually letting it get to them, and gladly lived almost as wild a life as she did. “Just like Tash is lying about this shit not being lame.”
”Aw, did we hit a nerve?” Lex teased. This party was lame in comparison to theirs, with smaller numbers and wilder fun. But the appeal of this party was the fact most of the school was there, and
drunk. She had the pick of who to tear down, or push into doing fucked up shit they wouldn’t while sober. She was used to her drink, but plenty of the other teens here weren’t.
”Do you really think I’d waste my time at this shit party if I thought I wasn’t going to have fun? And it’s no fun always doing messy shit without an audience. We’ve got a whole warehouse full of drunk people to mess with- that’s fun, even if we gotta tolerate shit music to do it. But first, let’s get high.”Lexi smirked, pulling out a bag of discrete white pills from her pocket. Courtesy of her older sister visiting from college, who’d provided the one thing their mum didn’t just have on hand. She took one and popped it in her mouth before passing the bag to Natasha. Her two friends followed suit, and she graciously allowed the rest of their group of punks to have one too. There was still plenty left for another night when it got back to her.
“Speaking of people to mess with, did you see Devout Danny ducking in and out like God’d strike him just for being here? I’m surprised he’s even here,” Corey said.
”Oh, he’ll be here in the hope he can make some poor, drunken souls change their ways. Maybe he’ll even stand up on a chair and preach the word of God to everyone- now that would be fun to watch.”“I think he’s cute.” Natasha giggled. “I’d
love to be the one to corrupt him.”
“Gross.” Lexi fake gagged.
“Have a little class, Natasha. At least go for a hot pious prick.”“Well I did say I find him cute.”
Rolling her eyes, Lexi tilted her head away from her friends and back towards the door. Just in time too. The school's golden couple had just walked out, and it didn’t look like it was so they could find somewhere private to have some fun.
No, it looked like Vicky had brought him outside for a fight. Which was strange considering Chef had been the one leading them out… Whatever, Lexi didn’t care. It was clear Vicky had escalated things, and her boyfriend- ex boyfriend?- was just taking it like a confused little bitch. Then she just got louder and angrier over
something.
It was difficult to hear over the blaring music inside and her friends chatting shit, even with Vicky shouting, but one word was said enough that Lexi caught it.
Tyler.
Smiling to herself, Lexi watched as Vicky stormed back inside leaving a dejected, confused Chef. It was hilarious to see a football player like that practically deflate.
“Did I just witness what I think I witnessed?” Corey asked with a whistle.
”Oh yeah. Fun’s starting.” Lexi dropped her cigarette butt to the ground, heavy boots stomping on it before continuing on towards the poor, confused man. He was clearly torn over whether to go after her or not- which was probably what she wanted. Lexi wasn’t going to let Vicky get what she wanted.
”Wow, getting dumped at a party? I thought that only happened to losers... You weren’t going to chase after her, were you?” Lexi laughed mockingly.
”And here I thought you couldn’t get any more pathetic.”She didn’t even wait for his response, heading back inside with Natasha and Corey in tow. Her gaze swept across the drunken crowd, hoping to find the other half of the now broken couple to kick her while she was down. But that bleach blond hair wasn’t anywhere in sight. Probably crawled into a corner to hide… Well, fuck it. She’d find Vicky later.
With a half assed comment Corey broke off to go hassle the stoner corner, while Natasha slipped away towards Gwen and a giggling group of cheerleaders. Undoubtedly to further spread the news, or maybe just get a bit of gossip out of them. Natasha was much better at being a little bit diplomatic compared to Lexi and Corey. Lexi could be if she really wanted to, but she never did. It left her alone, but perfectly comfortable with that. They’d easily find each other later.
Her eyes continued to rove, keenly hunting for other possible targets. Daniel had stumbled into someone Lexi didn’t recognise at all- she looked alt enough that Lexi decided to hang back to see how she reacted. Maybe she wouldn’t be a loser like most of the people here. Maybe she would.
The cringiest anime loving nerd was easy to spout thanks to her loud voice, with that whole group gathered together. Ella was, unfortunately, one of the few people that rarely rose to Lexi’s bait. Lupe too, though she’d succeeded with her a few more times. There was no point going in if the whole group was together. But if she could get Nora or Kari alone… It was worth keeping an eye out.
Another annoyingly impervious person danced close to the bar. Lexi was fairly certain Kersten’s brain had been so addled by weed that they could barely use it. It explained the shit that came from his mouth, at least.
She didn’t get too far through the mass of bodies before she paused, overhearing Tyler and Tommy talking. Two people she’d gladly dig into separately but didn’t want to deal with for long together. Throwing a third into a battle of wits just made things messy in a way that wasn’t enjoyable. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t do a drive by dig before finding someone else to sink her teeth into.
She whistled on her way past the two, lips pulling up into a taunting smile. Her eyes squinted up at Tyler, a languid pleasure like a large cat playing with its prey visible in them.
”So you and Vicky, huh, Tyler? Now that’s a match made in stuck up heaven! I’m surprised, I didn’t think you were bold enough to break up a couple like that.”Lexi knew for a fact there was nothing going on between Tyler and Vicky, but the virgin idiots that made up the majority of the teens here wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between competitive friendship and simmering sexual tension. But it was enough to put the thought into Tyler’s mind. He was stupid enough to think Vicky liked him. She said it loudly enough for others to hear, but didn’t let him respond before her sharp blue eyes moved to Tommy.
”Don’t go trying to be the next school shooter now the spot’s empty, Timmy.” She continued, purposefully getting his name wrong.
”I know it’s appealing, but just put a bullet to your own head if you want to be that edgy.”Still smiling, she didn’t bother waiting to see if either comment landed, slipping away into the crowd with little care for any words they had for her. She had a different goal right now for her own fun. She’d get to the edge of the room, where all the sad and lonely losers stayed away because they were sad alone. They were easy targets to bitch at, but also fun to pressure into doing shit they didn’t want to.
A pale, skinny teen with unkempt hair caught her eye. It took a moment to remember his name. Camille, was it? Someone who’d moved here recently enough… From Canada, she vaguely remembered. French Canada? The details were fuzzy, but that seemed right.
In a town like this, everyone knew everyone. Especially when you’d live here all of your seventeen years. People who moved there always ended up the talk of the town, because nothing else interesting ever fucking happened. So Lexi knew who Camille was, even though they’d never actually talked. She’d seen him around here and there. Heard rumours. He was trouble, or some shit. Lexi had heard that about herself plenty of times before.
Obviously it didn’t make her feel any sympathy towards him, or like they were kindred spirits. They clearly weren’t with how he was miserably standing alone nursing a beer.
But trouble was fun.
She moved in beside him, pulling out her packet of cigarettes and slipping one between her fingers. She held out the open packet to Camille, moving in so that she was close enough for it to be uncomfortable without completely invading his personal space.
”Want one?” She asked with a smile, rummaging for her lighter with her other hand. She popped her cigarette between her red lips to light it while still holding out the packet to him. She took a long drag, tilting her head away to blow smoke to the side rather than directly at him.
For now.
”Smoking’s a more normal thing for someone like you, right? Or is that just a real french thing?”She watched him as she talked, testing the waters. Not out of fear for a reaction- but trying to see what hit the mark. Maybe he’d surprise her, and turn out to not be a miserable loner like she’d categorised him as. Her gaze drifted to the side for a moment.
”Most people here are cowards. They act like one drag of a cigarette will kill them, or that they’re parents will catch a whiff and ground them for life. It’s pathetic.” Her eyes snapped back to him.
”Are you a coward like them?”
Atrophy
Evil Ghost Note
Neziul
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Simply Not Real
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