day after day

–   starter for @arabellawalker at chace’s apartment

                       It was often the cop cooked. He was more in favor of the lazier options in life like take out and drive-thru but when a friend dropped by with just wine and no pizza, he knew they needed his famous mac and cheese to counteract the copious amounts of wine he assumed the intended to drink. “The secret is – actually I’m not telling you what the secret to my masterpiece is but you’re going to eat it and then you’re going to tell me why you’re here on a weeknight drowning in dollar store wine.”

@arabellawalker.

                                      Attempting to free herself from this golden cage deemed a harder task than necessary. She believed she knew who she was, the part desperate for stardom etched across her flesh was more apparent as they days dawned on; she couldn’t fail, not now. Not when she was so close. However, it was when the cameras would leave, - hauled up in her hotel room was when an ugly beast would rear it’s head. Perhaps she was missing out? She wasn’t even able to go as far as a club without letting someone from her team know, and any alcohol consumption was to be in range of her agent. 

                     Thus, on an impulsive whim - she found herself within the bathroom walls of a bar nearby; her phone turned off. “Hey, do you think this looks good?” She asks, delicate fingertips playing with an eyeliner snatched from her purse. “Or am I looking like i’ve been punched in the face?”

This was Claudia’s bad habit. It had been a long time since her ex wife had signed the papers, and people didn’t just change out of the blue. But Claudia missed her so much, and she was hopeless for one person. Shaking her head, it was much easier to immerse herself into her siblings’ lives instead of her own empty hole of one. “Have you tried asking him why? If I had to guess, I’d say his wrabble rousing friends are influencing his behaviour. I swear, those boys…” She shook her head, “Well, I’d start with just telling him no.” 

Arabella watched her sister cautiously, wondering if distraction really was the best way to help her. Maybe she should press her to talk about it? Finally getting it all out there? But no, Claudia wouldn’t like that. She did things on her own time and her own time only. Bella allowed herself to be immersed in her favorite subject to complain about, her twin. “I mean, you know he’s always trying to live up to Jamie’s legacy of perfect hair.” she let out a sigh with a roll of her eyes. “Oh, I’ve told him no. But he keeps sneaking into my bathroom every time he comes over and then when I go to shower, my shampoo has magically disappeared.” Her eyes lit up as she an idea occurred to her. “Maybe, I’ll put Nair in my shampoo bottle next time!” she grinned devilishly at the thought of Gus washing his hair with hair remover instead of shampoo.  

“Let’s not talk about it, please?” 

Bella watched the disappointment spread across her sister’s face as she checked her phone yet again, and let out a sigh. Claudia caught her looking at her when she set her phone down and Bella’s heart wrenched at the sadness she could see in her eyes. “Fine. We won’t talk about it! Let’s talk about the fact that Gus has been stealing my shampoo again and it’s driving me crazy!” she offered, hoping to find anything to distract the eldest Walker from her ex. 

“Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite coworker?” Maverick smiled a little bit more, looking at Bella even as she looked at her shirt. He wrinkled his nose a little bit, turning put a hand on said ass, “I know, my ass looks great in these leather pants. You’d think people would appreciate it more. And it would not look great with your footprint on it. Be nice to me. I’m your only friend.”

“That shirt does not go with your shoes.” He pointed down, though his smile faded only a little bit. He’d maybe had a little bit too much to drink, and he wasn’t being supervised, so everyone was fair game with their fashion choices at this point. “Oh god. I’m turning into a knock off version of Ru Paul. Whatever – you look fine. Ignore me.”

ARABELLA. 

        How was it that their mom was still able to sit across from the very man who betrayed her, who betrayed all of them, every single Tuesday night without batting an eye?! It was beyond him, and the ordeal sparked the very rebellious within him that fought against every expectation and ‘show’ for the public. The Walker family had grown accustomed to putting a face on for the camera but, this was damn stupid, and he was glad his twin sister agreed wholeheartedly. He hands over his lighter, inhaling the cigarette between his fingertips like it was much-needed oxygen. “That can’t be a serious question. I’ve spent years growing this perfection,” Gus states, nudging her side with a smirk. The inevitably and perpetually jealous Augustus rolls his eyes, however, at mention of Jamie, who’s hair he envied and dreamt about often. “You’re supposed to be on my side, sis! What happened to family loyalty? —I think Jamie’s been deceiving me.. I mean, Pantene, really? I bet you he’s using some secret, homemade recipe to make that thing shine whilst he makes mine all flat and tattered. God, he’s smart.” 

Bella hated their family dinners just as much as Gus did. But for a sort of different reason. For Bella, sitting at the same table as her father, the man who she had looked up to and even adored, for most of her life and yet who had disappointed and betrayed her trust like he had was downright painful. Watching everyone act like nothing had happened and pretend to be the perfect family even when no one else was watching made the youngest Walker feel like this wasn’t even her family. She sucked in the first drag of her cigarette after she lit it as if she needed the nicotine to prepare herself for the misery they were about to endure. 

She rolled her eyes at her brother’s vanity, however unable to stop the grin that followed as she nudged him back. “I am loyal, but somebody’s gotta keep it real with you, dude. As beautiful as your locks are,” she teased, tussling his hair playfully, “Jamie’s hair is just at an unattainable level. I blame genetics. Mom and Dad were not good to us, bro. Plus, Pantene is like the worst thing ever for your hair. Haven’t you seen the videos going around of women having to scrape the wax off their hair from using that stuff?”

“I’ve got a million dollar idea, and it’s all yours…” With a quick snap of her fingers, Amelie points to the source of her current distress–one off-white hybrid bike chained two feet from where they stood.  “If you can help me pick the lock on that bike.” Flashing a wide smile, Amelie all but crossed her finger behind her back.

“What, did you forget the combo again?” the blonde asked with a snort of laughter. Bella had known Amelie long and well enough by now to be able to recognize her bike when she saw it. On top of that, she also knew the combination. With a sigh, Bella moved forward and knelt down to unlock the bike for her friend. Shaking her head and Amelie a roll of her eyes, she turned to hand the lock to her. “Okay. Million dollar idea. Cough it up!” she said with a grin, holding her hand out as if waiting for payment.

        “Finally!” The hungover male shouted in return as relief flooded through his system. “Someone who gets it.” When he mentioned the same annoyance of the song to her brother he hadn’t nearly been as understanding of Jamie’s suffering. “I mean not to hate on Lil Nas or whatever because clearly the dude was smart enough to profit on internet culture and I can’t be mad at that but when are people going to move the fuck on?” He questioned earnestly before shoving a fistful of fries into his mouth mid-rant. Fortunately for Bella Jamie had enough manners to wait until he swallowed his food before continuing. “Do they honestly think his next song is going to be country trap too?” Clearly it was a fucking joke and now that people are taking it seriously it’s lost all of it’s appeal.” 

“Got a light?” Bella asked as she plopped down on the step beside her twin. The youngest Walker siblings had long ago began a tradition of meeting up before their, what had recently become dreaded, family dinners. Needed to get as much smoking in before dealing with their parents as possible, after all. This Tuesday was no different. As she waited for her brother to hand over his lighter, she turned a critical gaze to him. “Okay, but serious question. When are you going to cut your hair?” she asked reaching up to tug on his man bun. “It’s going to be longer than mine, pretty soon. And besides, we both know there can be only one hair model in this town, and Jamie’s got that on lock.” she added, teasing as she threw fan to the flame, knowing full well about her brother’s hair rivalry with their friend.