Beach Boy

Meet: West Virginia 

“𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓂𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉𝓇𝓎 𝓇𝑜𝒶𝒹𝓈”

To say West had been a little bit busy now working two jobs and attempting to plan out his future would have been an understatement. Kept him more focused than he’d ever been in past years. But it didn’t mean he’d completely forgotten how to have a good time. He’d after all been the one to work out the details of this secondary tailgate. Which of course he couldn’t have done without just a little help from the girls of Lambda Rho and guys of Sigma Pi. Which meant regardless of how semi awkward it was, that he owed one big thank you to none other than Mia Montoya. Someone he hadn’t even realized he’d been avoiding until he saw her from across the field. But West Virginia was a gentleman at heart. Or at least that’s what he liked to believe. So he sucked up his pride as he pushed himself up from where he’d been sitting on the tail end of his truck and made his way over to give her a cheesy grin. “So gotta tell me. Do I have you to thank for any of this turn out? We know whether you’re gonna be the president of this shit yet or not?” 

While West was fully aware the school was having it’s own school sanctioned tailgate, it hadn’t stopped him from hosting one of his own. One that included pulling up on the back side of the stadium and included a few more illicit substances than he believed would be on Dean Hargroves approved list of activities. In fact he was fairly certain he’d witnessed two individuals from one of his auto-shop classes sneak off to do lines off the literal bleachers under which multiple students sat to watch the game. But he wasn’t too worried about it. Couldn’t be with the enormous amount of weed he’d smoked before coming in. He’d even convinced Ronnie to give him access to a keg that he had tapped in the back of his truck for whomstvah ever came back. But of course there was really only one person he was really looking for in the small crowd that had pulled their cars up beside his and that was one Sabrina Logan. A cheeky grin pulling up on his face she caught his eyes. “There she is ladies and gents. Queen of the tailgate. Miss Logan herself!” He announced, as he raised his beer to her. “What can I get you gorgeous?” 

🦋

Sabrina hadn’t ever recovered from everything that had happened, not really. Even when she felt like she was doing better, even when the now-constant fear in her stomach settled there was always something just underneath the surface, ready to emerge at the smallest tear in the net. Things had been harder lately, with summer ending, with the return to CCU underway. She ignored the weird feeling that she wasn’t supposed to be there, that her time at the school was supposed to be over. Everything felt weird to her these days, and the campus felt especially weird without Ethan Powers at her side. It didn’t help that she didn’t feel like she was allowed to feel that way, that she was allowed to miss him after what he’d done. It hadn’t just been her he’d hurt, it had been Casey and poor fucking Blaire. Sabrina had never liked her, but it didn’t mean she wanted her dead. It didn’t mean she wanted to imagine the boy who’d held her hair back when she had too much to drink taking a knife and- don’t think about it. 

There’s one new thing on campus she could get used to, and that was the addition of West Virginia. Pride swelled in her chest whenever she thought about his new gig. Plus, the whole professor thing was totally working for him- even if he didn’t technically possess the title. “I was just coming to see if you’d consider giving me some extra credit,” she teases as she leans agains the doorway, smiling at the sight of him in an office, “What are you up to in here, Prof?” 

☀️

The sight of his girlfriend standing in the doorway made his heart swell. It was the first time they were truly back in that school setting together. Just like they’d been when they were young and in high school. When he’d stand down the hall, and look up to find her across the lockers. Or when they’d sneak around in classrooms to fool around whenever they got the chance. Always with that sense of danger excitement that came from being young, dumb, and in love. But things had changed since then. They had grown. Had new experiences. And he was in the middle of planning one of the biggest steps he could possibly think of taking with her and she had no idea. To say he was just a little bit excited about it would have been an understatement as he swizzled around in his chair and held his arms out for her to come join him on his lap. “Oh I think we can definitely make some extra credit happen for you Miss Logan. Although you know, funny enough I don’t believe I saw you on my roster. What’s that about gorgeous?” He teased as he welcomed her into his arms. His eyes, turning towards the screen just to make sure once again that he’d clicked out of the link he’d been on. “I was just lookin over who did sign up for auto shop. Getting ready for some first day stuff. You know? Real teacher things.” 

Someone really thought it was a good idea for West Virginia of all people to teach a class. Sure it was Auto Shop and he firmly believed he was one of the best in town to be teaching it but the thought of it still had him a little nervous. Still he knew the extra money would be nice and it’d mean getting home a little earlier some days to spend more time with Sabrina. Something he’d been trying to do a lot more of since the whole almost stabbing incident. It’d been hard, living with the uncertainty on whether or not at any moment she might decide she was too much for him and try and take off. So he’d also re-invested himself in trying to do everything in his power to show her that his love for her wasn’t fragile. Which also included his plan for saving up for a little something special that he was certain he’d be able to afford after receiving his first paycheck from CCU. It was something he’d been doing a little more research on in Germaine’s office when he heard a knock on the door and instantly clicked out of. “Brina? I wasn’t expecting you yet baby. You get tired of all the orientation stuff already?” 

🦋

Bowling, somehow, had made it’s way onto Glenda Logan’s approved list of weekend activities. On the occasions that she needed all three of the girls out of her hair she’d drop them off at the lanes on the Proper side, a crisp twenty dollars placed into Sabrina’s hand, and another twenty that Lou slipped into her purse so she could buy snacks for all of them, behind Glenda’s back of course. Those were the days that Sabrina was intent on being the best at whatever she did, and most of the time she’d set her sisters up on one lane and take the neighboring one to herself, throwing the ball over and over and over again until she was knocking all the pins down in one swoop. 

“I love the confidence, but I think it’s you who should be asking me to go easy on you,” she teases over her shoulder before she releases the ball, watching as it took every last pin down with it before disappearing, “Did I forget to mention I love bowling?” 

☀️

There was something in the way she was teasing him that sent shivers up his spine. The good kind. The kind he used to get when they were kids and he’d see her walking down the hall. Knowing she was bound to ignore every other soul until she was wrapped up in his arms. A time when everything used to feel so much more simple. Which wasn’t to say that things didn’t seem on the up and up. Or at least they had until he’d heard the knew’s of Candy’s revival, but for the most part Sabrina had seemed out of the loop of it. And with Virginia still behind bars that meant he was too. 

“Oh is that so..” West started as he watched her pick up the ball. Watched her in almost perfect form roll it down the alley until it was knocking down each and every last pin. “What in God’s good name... Damn baby! That might be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” He announced in amazement as he stood up, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in for a quick kiss. “Didn’t realize I was dating a secret professional. But now you gotta stand back and see how a champ does it.” He bated as he set her back down and made his way to retrieve a ball, tossing it down the alley and knocking all but one pin out of the way. “Close enough. It’ll do for now.” 

West chuckled at the sight. Watching Rory Collins walking towards one of the junkers that the poor thing probably didn’t even know how to drive. And he simply couldn’t let that happen without giving her some sort of shit for it. “Hey Collins!” He called out to her, running up and wrapping an arm around her shoulder like an older brother might, and stopping her in her tracks. “Before you get into one of those things, I’m gonna have to see your license kiddo.” He teased as he patted the top of one of the cars nearby. “Can’t have speed racer dashing off while the movie is playing.” He continued, using the arm that was around her shoulder to steal a handful of her popcorn and tossing it into his mouth. “Is this even your type of movie?” He asked through a mouth full of popcorn. “I simply have so many questions. Most of which probably stem from the fact that I haven’t seen you in months.” 

West knew better than to sit and say that everything going on in his home was totally normal. He could tell that Sabrina was still facing demons that he’d likely never be able to understand. It also wasn’t lost on him that he was still keeping secrets of his own. And yet still whenever possible, he loved the idea of trying to take her out for somewhat of a normal date night. Something close to what they would have done when they were young. And while sure Rebel Without a Cause may not have been the movie he would have picked, it didn’t mean there weren’t other things for them to do there that couldn’t be just as fun! Who didn’t love a little bit of bowling? “Alright babes. Now I know what you’re thinking. He’s good at surfing. He’s good at fixing cars. He can’t possible be good at bowling too. But fact of the matter is, I’m about to whoop your butt. Now this is your last chance, to ask me to go easy on you.” 

𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥!​​ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧: wait is this fucking play about us but make it the fact that rebel without a cause may have been major inspo for me writing casey dfdfdgd  𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: the drive-in bby 

The last thing Casey had been expecting that night was to have a meltdown over a movie. A meltdown over Lux… maybe. Possibly on the cards. A meltdown over Zahra’s birthday gift tucked in his back pocket… yeah. Probably. A meltdown over James Dean? No. He looks at the other man’s face on the poster with the same kind of scrutiny afforded to when he’s deeply engaged in a book. There’s no doubt that what Casey’s wearing is far more modern - he wouldn’t be caught dead in those shoes, thank you - but there is something eerie about looking at it. Same pop of red in the jacket. Same cuffed jeans in a different colour. The only reassuring thing is the tagline. He certainly didn’t come from a good family - ha. “Is this like one of those who wore it better things?” He asks with a gestured finger point to the poster, finally tearing his gaze away from the poster to look at the person who had come to stand near him. “‘Cause I’d… win, right?”

☀️

West felt like he was about to watch a turf war go down as he admired the way Casey was eyeing James Dean like the actor had gone out of his way to offend him. His own ego not so easily bruised but it also wasn’t like the actor was particularly vying for his much more surferesque aesthetic either. So really West didn’t have a leg to stand on as he crossed his arms to hear the other boy out. “I don’t know man. He’s sure making it look like you decided to dress up for this thing which I personally can’t tell if that’s genius or kinda desperate.” He teased as he took a step closer to really eye the poster and then look over Casey’s fit. “But I guess I gotta hand it to you. If you are in fact doing a who wore it better with James Dean himself, I’ve gotta give it to the small town Mystic Cherry Bassist himself. Least you don’t look like you’re trying so hard. Unless that was your goal. Then maybe you’ve got some work to do.” 

who: open what: rocky being a lil on edge to be back in proper where: around the side of surf’s up

There were many, many things Rocky could attribute the tight feeling across her shoulders to. The horrifically publicised funeral of Billy Rocks that she had missed, the drama that seemed to swell every time someone so much as mentioned Lux Lewis’ name, or maybe it was simply pain from carrying all the bullshit she had for so many fucking years. One thing she would not attribute it to, however, was an uncomfortable feeling caused by being back in Proper after so many years. It wasn’t the first time back, no, but it was sinking in that she was back. In a certain sense. Whatever. That totally wasn’t her problem. 

In the afternoon shadows beside Surf’s Up Rocky attempted rid that irritating and awfully humbling feeling, pulling rolled cigarette from a metal case and put it between her lips. Cupping hand around it as she tried to light it– but then she sees a shadow move, or thinks she does. Either way, causes her to jump, dropping lighter from her hand as she did. “ Jesus. Don’t fucking sneak up on me like that, ” Was it really sneaking or was it more likely they’d just rounded a corner and now had Rocky snapping at them? “ Total creeper shit. ” She commented irritably, grabbing cigarette before it had the chance to fall as well. She looked to the ground for fallen lighter, the faded red BIC lighter easy to spot, but unfortunately close to the approacher’s feet. God damn it. “ Mind passing my lighter? ” She asked, pointing to it. Irritability notably dropped from her tone now she was asking a favour. A small one, but a favour nonetheless.

☀️

During the summer, West liked to consider Surfs Up to be somewhat of a second home for multiple reasons. For one it was the placed he’d go to service his boards and all their needs, and for two it was the place he knew he could get his hands on some fresh chronic right near the beach. Best of both worlds, a one stop shop if you will. And as such he didn’t think much to his actions in general when he was there especially when all he was doing was rounding the corner to make his way back to his car. Tossing the canister he’d just bought up into the air and catching it again when all of a sudden he was running into Rocky. “Me sneak up on you? The hell are you doing creeping in the shadows?” He offered in return, the teasing fairly meek in his tone as he bent down to pick up the lighter in question. 

West stood for a moment, twirling it between his fingers before opting to hand it back to her. “Seems like you could use something a little stronger than that to chill out.” He said more as an observation than anything else. “It’s Rocky right? You used to know Virginia?” He asked, trying to re-call the gang his sister used to hang out with when they were that much younger. It wasn’t like he was particularly close with any of his sisters friends, but he still made a point of trying to remember them by name when he came across them. “Why do I feel like I haven’t seen you around in a while?” 

Regardless of where he was living now, West always found a reason to go back to his trailer park roots. Whether it was to visit his brothers, or in this case just to take care of some of the surrounding areas, he’d had a hard time ever completing separating from it. Something he just sort of accepted wasn’t the case for most other individuals who grew up there. Which made it ever the more rare when he’d run into the queen of trying to escape herself. “Hey Maddox!” He called out as he stopped his pushing to give her a flag down. Giving his brow a quick wipe from the sweat as he leaned against the machine. “She graces the homeland with her presence. Gotta be quicker than that if you’re trying not to be seen in these parts.” 

It was no secret that West had been spending more and more time down at the beach. It was kind of his routine during the summers anyways but this year it felt like more than that. When he was in the ocean he didn’t have to think so much about everything else that had been going on around them. It made for the perfect escape. It also meant spending time not only attending to cars, but tending to his numerous surfboards as well. Which is what he was supposedly had been doing when Sabrina found him pretending to surf in the parking lot. Cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, with his sunglasses on quite literally upside down as a small group of kids laughed at his antics. “And then you just sorta... POP UP!” He explained, as he jumped up onto his board to show the proper motion, a series of small children mimicking his actions as he shot a look how cool I am glance towards Sabrina. “And that my dear children. Is how you land a babe as bodacious as mine.” He added, jumping off his board so he could wrap an arm around Sabrina’s shoulders. 

🦋

Wasn’t he tired of this by now? Of always having to step away from whatever event they were at to make sure she wasn’t crumbling? He never showed any hint that he was, but it didn’t stop her from thinking it. No matter how many times he told her he’d love her through everything she was scared he was wrong, that he’d wake up one day and realize she wasn’t the girl he’d waited for all those years. That the one who’d taken her place wasn’t what he wanted. How long would it be until he found a girl like the old Sabrina? One who dove head first into everything instead of hiding behind five locks and pieces of furniture. This had been one of her hardest days in a long time and she’d begun to slip, she’d almost forgotten the brave face she was supposed to be putting on. Sabrina’s eyes are everywhere but on his as he spins her around, though she doesn’t make any effort to move away from him, “I don’t need anything, I’m fine. Really, I am. What were you doing before? You should get back to it.” 

☀️

West feels in his bones like he knows when things are off. Not that they were off often when they were younger, but he knew even back then the days that Glenda was being a little extra credit awful to her. West can feel the way she barely kisses him back. Can tell that she’s barely willing to look at him as she starts offering up all the different ways to send him on his way. “You don’t seem fine.” He started, taking a small step back to give her space if it was really what she needed. His arms still holding onto her as he ran his fingers down her arms to grab for her hands instead. “Honestly. I’m kind of over the whole block party thing. Was fun for like five seconds, but was ready to come find you a long time ago.” West adds in his best attempt to be reassuring. “Besides everything’s more fun when I get to do it with you. Have you eaten?” 

🦋

Sabrina wasn’t usually a politics girl, and she certainly wasn’t the type to fight with her siblings- real or pseudo, but something had gotten into her during the AOL chat. Bertram Montez had been somebody most of the town trusted, who they held dearly to their hearts. Sabrina had trusted him, even before they started seeing one another. And while she saw the darker sides of him during their relationship, she never could have imagined what he was actually capable of. So sue her for being skeptical, for wanting to ensure that nobody else in town had the rug pulled out from underneath of them the way it’d been done to her. Her eyes close for a moment as she feels West’s arms around her, his kiss against her cheek. She can finally let go of some of the tension she’d been holding since they’d parted ways earlier in the day, it’s easy when she has something solid holding her up on her feet. “I’m okay,” she laughs weakly at his jokes, her hands moving up to cover his, “This whole thing is just… a lot, you know?” 

☀️

It a little bit funny the way he can feel her relax as soon as his arms are around her. Leaves him wondering how she walks around carrying so much tension otherwise. It was obvious that the chat had struck a nerve. Sure he’d seen her go off in it before, remembered the way she’d popped off on him to protect her siblings, but never over something like this. West couldn’t help pulling her in a little tighter as she covered his hands, his lips moving from her cheek, down her jaw in a further attempt to comfort her. “It is. Politics are always kind of sticky but especially after everything. I don’t think you’re wrong to be cautious. This town has been through enough.” West sighed as he made a point of turning her around in his arms, leaning in to capture her lips in a real kiss before leaning his forehead against hers. “Hey... tell me what you need right now? What can we do to get your mind off all the shit?” 

🏝️

“I get it, I look better in a bikini than Uncle Wilco does,” she teased affectionately, pretending she had managed to read West’s mind. Admittedly, however, she found it quite difficult to read West Virginia sometimes. Beyond a surface level, that is, it was hard to know what exactly was going on in that head of his, if anything at all. She wondered if he’d ever kept a journal, man she’d have loved to get her hands on that thing if he did.

She twisted her mouth, pretending to give it some thought though in truth, she had already made up her mind. It wasn’t particularly difficult to motivate Madeline Wilson to ditch work for the day, in any circumstances but catching up with an old friend in the sand on a near perfect day was just about impossible for her to resist. “You’re gonna have to shout me some lunch,” she pitched, taking advantage of his suggestion of a bribe, even if it was meant in jest. “For a start,” she added playfully, keeping her options open in case she wanted to squeeze anything else out of him before he hit the waves and she returned to her shift with a full stomach.

☀️

“Oh well that wasn’t even a question. Last time I saw Wilco in a bikini I lost my appetite for at least two weeks.” West assured her as if she really needed the confidence boost. Whether or not he meant it, another story, but he liked the idea of letting her ponder that instead. West quickly pocketed the first canister of wax and was about to grab for the second when he gave her a mischievous look. “So how much do I owe you for the organic shit?” He asked, readying his wallet yet again and nodding along with her stipulations. 

“I think we can definitely make that happen. Boardwalk didn’t burn down. How do some of the biggest corn dogs you’ve ever seen sound?” He offered like it was no big deal. And for once unlike perhaps the last time she’d seen him it really wasn’t. Thanks to some of his side hustles, he was bringing in more money than he ever had in years past. Enough to help afford the home he and Sabrina were renting together and then some. “I’m going to take this as a yes. Partially because I don’t think you can help yourself. And partially because even if you could say no to me, no one can say no to boardwalk corn dogs.” 

☀️

“Just me, just the way you like it,” she assured him with a grin that hadn’t faltered for even a second since he’d wandered through the beaten and weather worn door of the old shop. A lot of things had changed in Cherry that year, Lux was dead, Libby was no longer speaking to her, Casey and other members of the gang seemed wary of Maddie’s return for reasons she couldn’t quite understand. Yet, West Virginia, as he stood with sun bleached hair and dimpled smile, had barely changed at all. He brought with him the warmth of familiarity, like a day hadn’t passed since the last Summer she stood behind that same old counter, talking shit with old friends to waste the day until she could clock out for the afternoon.

She smiled as she went about shuffling through the Mr Zog’s display on the counter, she knew what kind of wax he needed and she also knew what kind of wax he liked. She picked up a solid puck of cold water wax and set it down on the counter between them, “Two fifty,” same as always, though she still felt the need to express it. She pressed her lips together then, considering something for a moment, something perhaps a little dangerous. “I um, can I interest you in maybe trying something else? It’s a new product…it’s…organic,” she prefaced, rather ominously before turning her back on West and reaching for a different display, a dusty box of organic, locally made wax by a company that didn’t exist anymore. Nobody ever bought it so she had taken to using the wax cannisters (made of old coca-cola cans, apparently) to store the Southsider’s supplies.

She returned to West then and slid the cannister across the counter, raising her eyebrows as her hands retreated, “Open it,” she encouraged, a little giddy about surprising West, even though she was aware it was a risk. Either the Southsiders would skin her alive for touching their shit or she was on her way to becoming of one of them.

☀️

It was strange the way Maddie brought back memories of times he now felt so twisted about. It wasn’t as though he’d been unable to make positive memories when he and Sabrina weren’t together, but it’d been weird for him to try and compartmentalize that he could have those and be just as happy about how things were now. Still Maddie Wilson brought with her memories of sunshine. Of time out in the water. Of smoking really good weed. And maybe even a few too many keg stands. So it was hard not to be ecstatic for her return. 

West waited, finger drumming on the counter as she reached for the wax he needed, which he proceeded to pick up and flip around in his hands. “That’s what I like to hear Wilson. Not that Wilco doesn’t have my love.” He said in a faux reassuring tone before bursting into another smile as she shot him the price. He made a point of setting the wax down carefully as he reached for his wallet, pulling out in exact change what she was asking for like he’d done this a million times. His eye brow arched as she continued, nodding his head as though he really had to think about what she was offering. “Fuck it. Who am I to say no to something that’s going to save the Earth right?” West waited for her to put the second canister on the counter, his eyes flashing between it and her own as he waved his hand over it like he was summoning something magical. 

@beachboy-west​

Maddie had been staring aimlessly at one of the surfboards across from the counter for so long that she could have sworn that she was starting to see the face of Nick Carter in the old wax. Or maybe that was wishful thinking.

 Then the bell at the front of the shop rang, breaking her free from her entranced stupor and ready to put on a smile for the sake of customer service. It was once the forced smile was already planted that she realised that it was West Virginia at the door and her smile grew more sincere, God she loved saying his whole name in all its glory, she couldn’t quite help herself. “Looky what the cat dragged in,” she chimed in a playful tone, perking up in her position behind the counter before leaning on it, perhaps just a little too enthusiastic to actually have somebody to talk to other than the Nick Carter surfboard. “What can I do ya for, West Virginia?” it was an attempt at a West Virginian accent but since she didn’t actually know what one of those sounded like, it just kind of sounded like Goofy the dog.

☀️

There was something about summer that had West Virginia feeling in his element. Sure it was a chaotic time for The Garage which meant more money, but it was also just warm enough for him to return to perhaps the second greatest love of his life. It felt like it’d been eons since he’d last actually gone surfing, and once he caught wind that one of his favorite people had made their way back to the beach he knew it was time to go. He’d packed up his things as soon as he got the chance and snuck his way past Hugo and away he went. The grin on his face a wide one as he entered Surf’s Up to find said familiar face on the other end of the counter. “That’s a real funny way of saying you missed me Maddie Wilson.” West announced as he made his way through the shop, stopping once he made it in front of her. “I love the accent. Wilco here or is it just you?” He asked, testing the waters for just how cryptic he needed to be. “I’m for sure in need of some wax. Whatever your little heart recommends. And maybe a recap on what the hell you’ve been up too.”