slick dark denim jeans and a white long-sleeve crop clung to her frame as she cascaded back down the stairs, eyeing the living spaces for the redhead. she was easy enough to find, thanks to the fiery locks, annie striding up beside her and resting her forearms on the kitchen counter. “if you’re already more than two drinks or shots ahead of me, i just won’t know what to do with myself.” one svelte arm was already reaching for a bottle and the stack of plastic shot cups that’d been perched atop the counter. “first order of business—we take the shots. then we make drinks, then we dance.” @aidenhollow​

“You made the climb up like a natural,” he complimented, covering any surprise at her words. It was a place he never would have discovered on his own, but he was grateful she had found it. He liked trying new things; he liked finding new things that were his, that had nothing to do with his family. His hands were planted firmly behind him as he just watched, laughing a little as she framed the view with her fingers. “This sounds perfect. We can even add a bookshelf and a mini-fridge. We’ll never have to leave.” It was a fun thought if he didn’t dwell on the specifics, something he did with every idea. He had a need to pick everything apart, analyze it from every angle to decide how it would be perceived by others. He preferred this to parties any day. A small, intimate setting. Comfortable silence with jokes tossed around here and there. While he didn’t know Annie all that well, he enjoyed her company thus far. His brow creased as she posed the question. “That pretty much sums it up. I study. Sometimes, I go to the movies.” He’d built his life on cliches and stereotypes, treating it like some kind of equation. If he did a plus b, it would equal his father’s approval. But he never had a chance to explore other interests just for the sake of it. “What about you? Besides being an interior designer in your free time.”

study, movies. a thoughtful nod tilted the blonde’s chin, debating between pushing for more information or leaving his short answer be. while she, personally, was inclined towards the former, she knew that not everyone was keen on answering question after unending question and digging into their passions and life’s story off the bat. still, the curiosity stayed with her like stubborn cling wrap, present as she looked back at hugo—as he turned the question back at her. a breathy laugh managed to meet her lips, annie looking away for the first time since she posed the inquiry herself. “nothing nearly as interesting, i’d bet. i really do spend most of my time dancing—or doing something dance-adjacent. which,” another laugh followed, this one a tad fuller. a laugh like humility. “—is so typical of a dancer, but it’s true.” a bit of a groan had filled her voice, as though she expected him to become bored of the obvious answer quickly. “i guess, otherwise, i like to... play board games.” she chuckled. "anything fun and competitive, really. meeting new people. music, which sounds dumb, but i mean really getting into it. i like doing this.” annie shrugged, gaze landing back on his. “any specific kind of movie?” she asked, as if no time had passed since he mentioned going to the theater. “or is it more about the experience?”

ANNIE COHEN AS PHILOTES at the HOWELL ARBORETUM

Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips We should just kiss like real people do

Jamie had tragically made the mistake of forgetting about karaoke night. He had settled in for a quiet night at the bar by himself, tucked away on a stool with a beer in front of him and no company. But then halfway through his drink the backing music track starter, and he almost groaned audibly. Trying to just finish his drink and get out, he motioned frantically to the bartender. “Hey, hey! Can I close out? Check? He yelped almost desperately as he saw Annie approaching him, but he would have no such luck. The man couldn’t hear him over the wails of the singer. Turning his attention towards the girl, he gave her a look that said, well, guess this is happening. “No, no, I don’t dance. I wasn’t allowed to as a child,” he protested lamely, resisting her tugging on his arm. “I prefer ABBA, by the way,” he informed her as an aside, eyes refusing to look anywhere but her face. If he did, he might actually be convinced to join her. “I’m gonna at least need a shot first. If you’re going to take me against my will.”

with little effort, annie squeezed in between his seat and the next, her elbow coming to rest on the bar. then her forearm. “alright, chad danforth, i won’t force you,” she spoke, palms raising momentarily at her sides as her eyes once again found his own. “not yet, anyway.” at that she turned to face the bar, leaning over to get the bartender’s attention. “hi,” she called over, leaning almost comically over the surface in order to prevent shouting at them over the music. anyone outside of the two of them, however, couldn’t hear her voice. any attempt at figuring out what she was ordering would’ve had to be done through reading lips. one nod and a genuinely charming smile later and she came to resume her previous position while the man behind the bar pulled out three shot glasses and began to fill them. “so, how is jamie costello’s night going?” she prompted, attention turning back towards him and her forearm rising so that she could rest her chin in her palm. just then the shots were slid in their direction, annie quick to set one in front of him and two in front of herself. in a final swift movement she handed her card over, motioning for it to be kept on file.

He’d always hated when they had parties at the house. They were inescapable, cocooning around him, pinning him to the place, and he’d become unable to catch his breath. Parties had always been suffocating to Hugo if only because he found himself overwhelmed with all the freedom they offered, a chance to let himself go, but it was a step he’d never take. Annie had become somewhat of a saving grace to him at parties as he often found himself searching for her on the rare occasion he voluntarily went out. She carried herself in a way that she seemed sure of herself, that she moved on from her mistakes with a smile, which he admired about her off the bat. Standing near the window, he watched her carefully, searching for signs that she would fall, ready to catch her if she did. “That sounds like a challenge,” he teased. If it had been his brothers saying that, he probably would try to fall only to prove them wrong. Immediately relaxing after she made him up, he took a deep breath and hoisted himself up. Surprisingly, he wasn’t worried about the climb, driven by his desperate need for escape. He crawled up next to her as he looked across the campus. “Much quieter,” he agreed. The party felt like a million miles away. “Can you believe I’ve never been up here? You just showed me my new hiding spot. Maybe I’ll try to get my desk up here.” 

“can you believe i’ve never actually been up here, either?” annie inquired back with a smile that was simmered eagerness met with some nervousness. like she’d just pulled a cloth from over a top hat and hoped hugo wasn’t angry about the rabbit now inside of it. the big reveal. ta-da. she then gave the immediate area a scrutinizing scan, holding both hands out in capital Ls, as if she were a film director framing a scene. “but i could see a desk,” she nodded, “and right... there, i’ll place one of those rich, grand leather chairs that i see in practically every corner of this house. and we can... i don’t know, read novels or discuss philosophy or the universe or stargaze or swap dad jokes or whatever it is you like to do.” she shrugged, leaning back so that she was now propped up by her forearms. it comforted her greatly that hugo had even allowed her to pull him away tonight in the first place, the two seeming to find some sort of steady ground as of late. a great relief considering their initial meeting—a hastings party, much like this one. one drunk annie luelle cohen, accidentally stumbling into his room. the hasty apology, the more solid one a few days later when she’d spotted him on campus.

a pause followed her words, the girl’s brows creasing just noticeably. “what do you like to do?” she then asked, turning to look up at him. a simple question with genuine intent. “i really just threw the hastings stereotype out there. my bad.”

Lazing on a chaise lounge conveniently positioned in front of a window, sun warming her like a blanket, Darby turned her head upon being interrupted from the box of old Italian records she was thumbing through. she had put on an opera from a composer she didn’t recognize, a soprano’s voice climbing dizzying heights as it spun around on the vinyl. As she propped her head up on the back of the lounge, the straps of her lacy slip fell off her shoulders, looking like she had just been woken from her starring role in a perfume commercial. One in French and populated by half-dressed models. :What are the tasting notes? Does it half a good body?” She questioned, seriously, before breaking into a laugh, face crumpling. “Kidding. Of course. Crack it open. And for reference, I prefer wine when it’s poured directly into my mouth. Tastes better that way,” she informed Annie with a wink, sliding over on the chaise to offer her a seat. “Want to pick out some different music? I think this lady’s trying to shatter my eardrum with her voice.”

annie’s brows rose, straightening up where she stood and once again taking the bottle into her grasp. a quick glance around the kitchen revealed a readily available cork screw, undoubtedly left behind by one visiting student or another. swiping it with her free hand, she made her way towards darby, a smile painting her face as the wine inside the bottle sloshed about just a little. for a quick moment her gaze flickered over the albright girl, lashes flitting in a way that could’ve suggested she quickly checked her out or was merely blinking. even if it were obvious, it was always hard to tell with annie whether she was flirting or just being friendly. you know, friendly in the way that some young women were towards other young women they found unquestionably beautiful. a chuckle tumbled from her lips as she neared the chaise, stopping short to set the bottle on a nearby coffee table and beginning to work the screw into the cork. “how dare she,” annie teased, though the space between her brows creased in such a way it appeared as though she were personally offended on darby’s behalf. “—but sure thing, just give me a second...” turning back to the wine, she made quick work of uncorking it, a clean pop echoing throughout the space. “beautiful, not a drop spilled or sprayed. this shit can’t go to waste,” she noted, practically beaming as she walked over to behind the chaise lounge’s back, prompting the other girl to lean her head back. she imagined that it’d be difficult for anyone to so easily turn down or forget the silly request, though it was especially difficult for her to resist. even if darby had been joking, she’d get what she’d asked for, annie was intent on that much. chuckling a bit, she bent over some and began to carefully tilt the bottle just over her mouth, stopping after a small pour. she then stood there for a moment, clearly satisfied. “so,” her voice picked up again, walking back around and taking the offered seat, “how’s it taste, beautiful?” her eyes not-so-subtly moved from darby’s eyes to her lips and back.

(romee strijd, cis female) - have you seen annie cohen? annie is in her senior year. the dance major is 22 years old & is a sagittarius. people say she is disarming, playful, compulsive, and volatile. rumors say they’re a member of kincaid society. i heard from the gossip blog that she dropped out of this past summer semester last minute to check into a psychiatric unit.