𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓮𝓸𝓾𝓼

“of course, when you’re not off busy — or getting busy — with kier, obviously.” summer stuck out her tongue against her left cheek and raised an eyebrow, imitating a not-so-tumblr-friendly act for her sister as a way of teasing her. “anyways, he’s not getting to me. it’s really frustrating when someone that hot is so annoying. i could probably draw him all day, but he’d shit on me for it, and then i’d get annoyed looking at his face for too long while doing it.” summer explained, remembering for a moment when avery’s hobby for art was short-lived. “well… she’ll text in the group chat anyways… she always does.” she thought, missing her mom for a moment. while she loved being with avery, she wished the two of them were back at home together. “yeah, it’s fine, i think i’ll need a vacation from this vacation soon, though. my eye bags are getting their own eye bags.”

her response sends avery's eyes rolling, "i'm not getting busy with kier." she reaches to knock her fist into summer's shoulder, a gesture far too familiar between the sisters. avery's expression quickly bunches up, full of disgust and proceed to make gagging noises, "finn? hot? he's hot?" she presses the back of her hand to summer's forehead, "you don't have a fever so you're good." another tease, avery had a lot of fun with summer in her vicinity. "draw someone better, with a better facial structure. like, me." she throws up her hands in excitement, cupping her face to show off what she was presenting in her words. she reaches to check summers face, "your eyebags are fine, just sleep more. no evil spirit is going to come for you." she drops her hand, "i've been meaning to ask you something."

KIERNAN

“ oh i think you very well know. ” kiernan snickers, deciding to feed into her game for now. “ i’m a man of many talents, choice patience being one. ” they needed this, kiernan thinks, the time alone together. he loved their friends ( for the most part ), but the hotel offered a seclusion and privacy that the two normally didn’t get in the van. additionally with kiernan’s debatably constant pestering libido - it was safe to say that even if they did spend a good 90% of their time in their room, it was a good thing they did. brows raise at her proposal, eyes scanning the emptiness around them once more, to make sure. “ here ? scandalous. what if someone walks in on us ? ” gaze flickers to the small circular camera stationed in the very far corner of the stairwell. “ and that - but something tells me you like the possible audience as much as i do. ” the brunet hums, ascending the remaining stairs so they’re level. “ i don’t think anyone deserves to see you the way i get to. ” he adds, once again closing the space between them and backing avery against the wall of the landing. “ but i’m willing to let it go this time. ” fingers sneak up her inner thigh, the soft fabric of her dress riding up his wrist. 

"do i know?" she replies with a quick wink thrown in his direction. this, she thought, were the nights she had the most fun with. just her and him, he was hers and the tension of the past few months shed like skin. she was happy and she was playing around, one of the few things involving him that she enjoyed. "kiernan, don't be selfish. when has that ever stopped you from making a statement in public?" her brows raise, her expression daunting him for an answer. her expression melts away with the boy closing the vast amount of space between them, she almost wants to turn to work him up but avery's mind was a jumble of directions as she was pinned at his expense. her breath stops short, a simple touch was enough to send the hairs on her skin standing. her hands work at the fabric of his clothes, finger tips danced down his torso to rest on his waist, "i-" her lips inch towards his before banging her head with the wall from the sudden sound, "shh, someone's here." the throbbing dismissed as she pressed a quick finger to his lips and looked passed him. she blinked, confused as to where the sound could have come from. her eyes meet his with the puzzle expression, "no one's there..." she says with a shrug as she continued to work on button of his pants but stops short, "now i'm paranoid."

KIERNAN

a distinct exhale of breath leaves his lips, his heart beating a little faster in his chest with each brush of her lips. “ touche- and i can only hope. ” kiernan grins, gaze trailing the handrail as an afterthought. there’s a tick of faint annoyance when avery parts from him, the ghost of her clothing covered skin left behind and his brow cocking. “ sleep ? not exactly what i had in mind. ” he responds with a shrug of his shoulders, grasping for the rail of the stairs and trailing after avery slowly. it’s as he does he realizes that his date outfit was perhaps a little TOO warm, a little too snug, and his patience was once again wearing thin. “ i’m just making up for all that lost time between us. ” there’s a jesting lilt to his tone, a daring glance as he follows her slowly, carefully, as though he’s tracking her next move. “ plus i can’t exactly screw you senseless in the van so.. ” words fade off into nothing, the pad of his finger trailing up the surface of the rail with utmost patience. “ can you blame me ? ”

"oh? what did you have in mind?" she played on, well aware of what the night had in store for the two; dancing beneath the sheets full of two bodies wrapped up with one another. she keeps on, eyes darkened by the nights progressing effect left by him. her fingers tap an exposed thigh with her dress inching up with a smile more wicked than warming. she treads up one more step, keeping as much of a distance to play with him. "all that lost time," her head cocks to one side, lips caught between her teeth as she shook her head. "oh but you have the patience to make up for the time in public?" she taps the rail with slow movements; his comment left avery gaping down at him. "come on then," she beckons him forward with her index, then moving to swipe her hair from her shoulder leaving her neck exposed. "there's no one here." or so it seemed as avery teased, moving back up the stairs at a steady pace with her hand retreating to her side.

her head shakes as the joke went over her head, but still she smiles. “really? my board screams ‘fuck avery lives’ to you?” nelly chuckles and lifts her board in the air with one hand. “wanna ride it? i mean what better way to assert your power over such a negative force?” she set the board rolling a few inches ahead of them and held out a hand toward avery to help her get on. “do you trust me?” she asked, quirking a brow.

          NOTHING IN CASSIA’S LIFE had prepared her for the whirlwind that was avery. she had been a blessing in disguise, an anchor for a drowning girl, and no words in the world could express that sort of gratitude. cass hadn’t known it then, but avery was to become an extension of herself more than just a friend, and no one could ever replace that.

she gave the same smile at avery’s knowing comment, then shrugged. the other girl knew the medium inside out, and it came as no surprise that she could read her so easily — cassia was an open book if one only learned her language. «that’s so romantic,» she cooed in a sarcastic tone. continuing to walk, occasionally letting a hand rest on a tree stem as if she could feel anyone’s presence through them, she gave avery a strange look. «you do know demons aren’t .. space creature, right ? i don’t think they’d know any more than us.»

KIERNAN

“ um don’t be a spoil sport. ” he jests back, letting avery lead. “ hm. a devious plan. ” brows slowly raise as avery continues to speak, till a playful look of mischief resides on his visage. “ oh ? what’d you have in mind then ? ” kiernan hums, form looming close enough to where he could reach for the chains of the swing behind avery’s body, arms locking her in place as fingers latch around the icy metal. lips once again descend to give her a brief peck before they flutter to her jaw, leaving faint and fleeting kisses. “ you’re gonna have to lay it out for me. ” one hand pulls itself from the swing to sneak down and rest against her back, fingers pressing into her skin firmly but still retaining a gentleness. he gives a contented sigh. “ i’ve missed you. in more ways then one. ” eyes drink her in, this time though there’s evidence of more than just love and adoration in his gaze. “ desperately. ”

he leans close to her ear now, words soft. “ you have no idea how hard it is to be so close to you in that stupid van. especially when you were asleep. every time i looked at you all i could see was the girl i used to have in my bed every morning. you know you sleep with this look on your face .. and it’s the most beautiful thing, i could have it painted a thousand times and nothing could ever capture it the way it is in my mind. ” digits climb up her back, finger tracing every divot and curve of clothed skin before landing in her hair, where the entangle in her dark strands. “ and when you got mad over dumb things i did, i have to admit i started doing it on purpose, partly because i just wanted you to talk to me, and partly because you’re really attractive when you’re mad. you get really .. worked up. ” a deep chuckle comes from his lips, the sound reverberating in his chest. “ almost reminded me of old times. ” there’s a cocky lilt to his words. “ so tell me princess, what’s on your mind ? ” and then like that, he retracts, arms at his sides and a inquisitive look on his face.  

"spoil sport? now come on, who says shit like that." she turned to face him, her face angling up to express her distaste for that specific phrase. reading his face, let out a dry laugh; kiernan knew what he was doing, specifically when it came to avery. "to go to sleep, not with you. you can take a night alone, think of ways to..." her words stopped short leaving her breath getting caught in her throat. "i know what you're doing, it's not going to work." her fingers tighten around the chain, more out of frustration over the effect of his lips lingering by her ear and for a fact avery was weak.

she remains facing, staring into nothing with the warmth radiating from her body inching backwards to press against his chest. a soft hum slips from her lips, unintentionally of course not wanting to give him the satisfaction that what he WAS doing was working and her intentional plan was failing. her body curves against his with the satisfaction of his fingers entangled in her hair but just as she allowed herself to give in completely, retreating from her act to refuse, he disappears along with his movement. she turns to him, a frown in place of where her lips were swelling with the thought of meeting his. he was a dick. "don't tell me that it's a new kink of you to get me worked up so you can turn yourself on?" her fingers leave the swings and wrap around his neck; fingers playing with a few strands as she leans up, lips brushing his briefly. "hmm, what makes you think there's something on my mind." her tone falls into a whisper.

her hands now cup his neck, digits tapping along the skin as she dragged them down along his skin to toy with the collar of his shirt. her lips hover by the curve of his jaw meeting his neck, "nah." her fingers reach back up to tangle up in his hair, jerking his head back with her hold. “you almost got me there, babe.” she smiles at him, raising her eyebrows along with it.

“ugh, you’re the worst. let me live my life in the most peaceful way that i can despite all this.” she said, snatching back the sage from her childhood best friend, basically sister. “besides, we already have a demon with us. it’s finn. and no amount of sage can get rid of him–so.” summer snarled, throwing her huge annoyance under the bus behind his back, as usual. “he said some shit about loosening up, like i hadn’t heard that one before. tommy’s known him forever and i feel like he pretty much just laughs at me whenever i complain about him, so i’m glad i’ll always have you–whether you like it or not.” summer sighed, putting the sage away in her backpack. “my mom told me to tell you to call her and give her updates, by the way. she says watching the youtube videos isn’t enough.” 

her finn comment elicited a bubbly response full of laughter and small smiles, "that was a good one." she watched her take back the sage, "what did the weasel say?" she leaned against van door, "tommy's not doing a great job being a listener, aren't you so glad you have me to talk shit with?" she glanced down at the girl, "finn talks stupid, he is stupid, anything he says is stupid. i can't believe you're letting him get to you. she exaggerated with an expression before pushing herself off the door, "oh.. fuck, see i've been really busy with everything. sometimes i just forget to call. i'll call mom soon." family. summer's family was her family and it was easy flowing as a stream to refer to the strauss' as such.  she reached down to brush summer’s hair behind her ear, it was instinct. “you good though with finn? i’ll punch him if he’s a bother or sew his mouth shut, i could use a break myself.”

his persistence was unnecessary and, to tell the truth, he wasn’t sure why he was so hellbent on irking avery. it was nothing out of the ordinary, however. now a trademark of their friendship, it would be wrong for finn to not badger the girl. he leaned against the wall in the hotel’s hallway, eyes fixated on the door to her room as she attempted to ditch him per usual. “ what are you gonna’ watch ? i’m down for some tv. “ he asked, his lips curving into a small smile. he was amused with himself, amused with the annoyance that oozed from avery each time he spoke. “ wait, no. you said bath ? i haven’t been to my room yet, i wanna’ see the bath. just let me check it out and then i’ll find summer and bless her with my presence instead. “ a lie, of course, but it was the only way he could think of to get into avery’s room without full-on brawling with the girl in the middle of the hall. “ c’mon, for your ol’ pal finny. “

she was preparing to take off. skateboard in hand, the night air blowing lightly against her hair, and all the open space ahead screaming ‘you’re free! be free!’ but her thoughts came to a halt with the hands coming over her eyes. she felt her heart jump, and part of her was ready to square up, her free hand already balled up in a fist. then the sound of her — strangely altered — voice came, allowing nelly’s body to relax. “what kinda carpet are we talking?” she asked, tone duly suggestive. “are you gonna take me over, sideways, and under?”

          UPON FIRST GLANCE THE two girls seemed to be polar opposites, of different worlds. where cassia was hard and unfeeling, avery softened edges to fit her perfectly, and in return cass had let her leave a mark on her heart where there were only footprints before she had stepped into her life. she had been vulnerable, which was the bravest thing cassia could ever be: and avery had never asked for more than she was willing to give.

that was the story of how cassia qasim became just a little bit more human, holding her best friend’s hand as they turned against the world and made their own path. it was a path she was only willing to walk with her with the knowledge that they’d be safe together.

«moonchildren,» she repeated thoughtfully, for whilst that wasn’t the reason behind supernatural activity at night time it was a nice thought. she looked over at avery and smiled, leading the way with the other girl at her arm. «unless we get eaten by coyotes,» cass added seriously, then beamed again. «joking. if anyone’s killing us it’ll be angry demons. c’mon, let’s go.»

CASSIA & AVERY, it was them against the world. there was an undeniable bond between the girls. there was baby steps involved when avery was running to the edge of the world to gather cassia's attention. the bond remained undeniable. nights spent laid up with one another, with promises shared between the sheets that involved their future and hopeful eyes meeting underneath covers, avery felt at home when she was around cassia. where she went, avery wanted to be there with her; she couldn't imagine a cassia-less world, nor did she want her mind to wander to that.

KIERNAN

she is home. that is the only thought that repeats in his mind. home, home, home. not new york, not even the comfort of his mother could compare. everything he was now avery had helped build. she’d laid out the framework while he’d sanded the boards. together they’d made something that they both could feel safe in, and never had he been so thankful to open it’s door once again. her kiss is sweet, a fuzzy recollection that makes him grin ear to ear. the soft admission causes his heart to flutter too, forehead resting against hers in a brief moment of reprieve. 

“ i’ll say it a thousand times over if i have to. ” kiernan murmurs, arms encircling her waist. “ i’ll call you every sappy nickname in the book. ” face leans down to bury in the crook of her neck, a gentle peck pressed to her shoulder. “ love, darling, angel. you name it. ” he mumbles, though it’s muffled. “ i love you. ” he utters again, embrace completely locked around her. “ so much. no amount of money could ever make me feel the way you do. ” posture returning, he takes time to examine the small park from above avery’s head. “ wanna swing ? i’ll push you. ” he teases, shoulder knocking hers. “ we have a couple hours till sunrise. ”  

her chest bloomed with flowers. they remained dormant from the day he walked away from her out of fear. her head was fuzzy with thoughts, thoughts she ignored for now. she ignored the worry spreading throughout her, for now she wanted to be in the moment. allowing her nerves to sing with excitement. the interaction, the repair of the short break repaired any tension upcoming. avery didn't think she could continue on being the way she had with him anymore.

"oh yeah?" a soft hum leaves her with the feeling of his lips on her shoulder, "wow, that strokes my ego. get a man who tells you you're worth more than money?" avery's hands always found their ways on him, dating or not; having kiernan under touch was comforting. "the swing? what am i? ten?" she did take him up on the offer, despite the mock in her tone. she took his hands and led him towards the park, "i have another thing for you tonight. we don't sleep at the hotel when we get there. you stay in your room and i stay in mine, that's for .. everything." her lips curve upward in a coyish grin. she walked through the gates of the park, hands in his before dropping them and walking over to a swing. she couldn't remember the last time she actually came to a place such as this. "i don't know if i really want to swing.." she admitted, turning to face him with her lips pursed.