cruel summer

“It’s not too drastic is it,” Cecily asked as she ran her fingers through her freshly cut, newly dark hair. Even though her hair was naturally dark she’d gotten so used to being blonde that the change felt like as a much of a well, change, as it did an embrace, of who she was. “Or harsh, I don’t know, I probably just need to get used to it.”

“Shorter is always going to feel drastic,” Bev shrugged, “Or when you do anything but if you don’t get a drastic haircut every now and then -” To deal with your burgeoning mental state if you were Bev, “What’s the point of having hair.”

notes -> just gonna blanket tw: mentions of self harm and suicide ideation because bev’s head is not a fun place to be. stay safe bbs! also that horror movie exists, it was baby lissa’s first one.

date -> saturday. an abandoned farm.

Coffins.

“Hey. Sorry. Do you mind if I hang out here for a second?” Arden asked hesitantly as she made her way up to the first person she caught sight of, trying to get away from being harassed any longer but also worried about imposing on anyone. “Some dude was trying to talk me up over at the elliptical and wouldn’t take no for an answer until I told him I was here with someone. Just need him to take his sight off me long enough so I can make a quick escape.”

There was an earbud falling out of her ear as Beverly glanced away from the weights where she’d been trying to increase her rep time. Normally she’d have sharp words for Arden but at the mention of why she was lurking nearby, even Bev wasn’t that awful to leave her at the mercy of some dickhead. “Must be desperate if you’re coming to me,” She couldn’t help but say. “But sure, whatever. I’m in the mood to kick someone’s ass anyway if you really need it,” Her hatred of dickhead men did tend to outweigh everything else.

notes -> the chronic self loathing your honor!

date -> 4th july. dead man’s quarry.

So. Panic.

“At this point it should just be the new National Anthem. Who doesn’t know it?” Arden took the chance to joke around a bit with Beverly now while she was in a seemingly good mood than her usual. “Tell me about it. I’ve seen people try to bring wedges and peplum tops back, like please let those trends stay dead. I dread the day we see the return of the combo of wearing a t-shirt and skirt over jeans.”

“I know what I’m saying next time we’re in the question round and they ask me what I’m doing if I was ever president for the day,” Bev’s lips twitched in the hint of a smile. “If they do that though, I’m straight up tiktok shaming people more than I do now. I’ll just demand the fashion police back by sheer force of will,”

“Oh my god, right?? That was next level! I love an iconic movie reference in a music video and she killed that one. I listened to the album when it came out and like, yeah some of the songs are a little slow and sad but she’s becoming a fave of mine anyway.” Birdie laughed and nodded in agreement, “Drama is the quickest way to my heart, too. It’s not the best thing to admit I’m sure but I can’t help it. I love the real housewives and I love a good celebrity love triangle.”

“She’s slowly getting up the list, even if she doesn’t half make me feel old,” Bev snorted, “Or maybe I’m just edging away from being a teenager enough that I feel out of touch,” She grinned, “Gotta love a good reality show, admittedly I would be throwing my drink in someone’s face for views,”

“I think Driver’s License is the goal. Like, that’s what every Disney girl’s song wants to be but no one could do it before that and now it’s gold standard.” It was amazing what could happen when you mixed real talent in with the rest of the formula. “The song can’t be separated from the drama, that’s why it’s so juicy. Sure, in a year or two people will forget or some people won’t know the story at all but I swear that’s what made it so popular at first. Scandal sells.”

“I saw the Jennifer’s Body vibes from the music video of one of her other singles and now that? That’s pretty iconic too,” Call her a Megan Fox stan but Bev did have a real soft spot for that movie. “I guarantee I would not care as much unless there was drama involved, it’s the quickest way to get me interested in something,”

“Who sings that one, again?” Rosie asked, taking a small bite out of the strawberry pocky stick she had in hand. “Honestly, I’m still like a huge Selena Gomez girl. Like Good For You, a classic and no one can deny that.” She told her best friend with a nod of her head. “Okay, that I know about.” Rosie said, excitedly as she was quite the fan of any and all things gossip. “Honestly, I’m obsessed.”

“Baby Taylor Swift,” Bev said with a hand wave, “Or something, she’s a teen and sad about her ex boyfriend but it’s a good song,” Not that Bev was judging, okay maybe she was but her melodramatics were legendary as an adult, let alone as a teenager so she didn’t have room. “Gotta get the fix somehow, I feel like I need some of that merch,”

“Depends on if you’re just talking about the new generation of Disney girls or all of them? Cause as much as people like to hate on Miley let’s not act like Bangerz didn’t shake up the whole industry either.” She pointed out with a shrug. “Admittedly, it is kinda hard to look away from the drama though. Kinda like when you see a car crash and just can’t look away.”

Bev wrinkled her nose, considering. “I will concede that Party in the USA is iconic,” As much as she felt ew about agreeing with Arden on anything, “Celeb drama is fun,” Beverly shrugged, “It is a car crash, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are back on but I draw the line at ultra baggy jeans coming back,”

“ I don’t know. Are we saying just their solo music or thing’s they did in Disney properties too?” Behati asked, before she could make a full assessment. “ I typically hate drama in my own life, but I think in this case drama helps. If you know the context of a song I feel like you care more. Or at the very least see where they’re coming from”

Bev wrinkled her nose, considering, “I think just the solo stuff, evening the playing field right? Especially since I swear it’s a Disney girl right of passage to drop a single,” Bev laughed, “I guess celeb drama is it’s own thing, it’s like watching a trash fire,”

“Oh, I agree one hundred percent. I think it’s a beautiful thing you’re doing.” She grinned, happily playing along. “Well that’s disappointing. I was hoping to see some tulle and ruffles in the photo album. How’d you get into pageants? Did you do them as a kid?”

“I think my mother would have killed me or I’d have killed her if I’d had to wear one,” Bev said with an amused shrug, “Yeah, as a kid - always been photogenic as hell so I had to work my angles somehow after the beautiful baby contests. It’s probably less intense than child star but not by much,”

Suede smirked, nodding. “I have to agree with you there. I love a woman who steps up and uses her platform for good.” Her brow perked up slightly, “Pageant, hm? I mean, you’re beautiful so I’m not surprised but I’m also kind of surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who’s been in one.”

“What’s the point in having a platform if you don’t use it for the right reasons?” Debatable if Bev used hers for the right reasons all the time but. “Well now you have,” Bev said, lips quirking slightly amused. “I promise I’ve never once worn a toddlers and tiaras style dress,”

Rosie twisted her lips, as she did know Beverly to have quite the standards. Which honestly, she respected a ton. Hell, if this experience had taught her anything it was that not everyone was worth your attention. But when you met people that were, you had to keep them close and treat them really well. “John Boyega should totally be knocking on your door. Like what is he waiting for?” She asked Beverly with a laugh. “I don’t know, there’s a lot of really hot girls in this town, for example—” Rosie pointed between the two of them. “Maybe it’s just a matter of making the first move, bestie.” Rosie nodded. “Oh my god, I am more than here for that.” They were human beings, they should be allowed to eat as such. Apple slices and rice cakes be damned. 

Bev chuckled, with a fond eye roll. “I know but not everyone in this town is us either, I’ll make the first move when there’s someone on our level,” Or like when she wasn’t such a commitmentphobe that even the thought of getting under someone felt like a whole thing. Like what if someone wanted to cuddle after? Ew. “I’m up for strong arming people into it, like we can’t make the swimsuits look hot on skin and bone they gotta give us something to work with here,”

“I have nothing against public humiliation at all. I think people like that only act out because they think it’ll never see the light of day. At the very least, you’ll stop getting them because people won’t want their nudes posted for the world to see. At best? You start a trend that stops unsolicited dick pics being sent writ large. Iconic.”

“And what’s the point of having a large instagram following if you don’t put it to good use,” Bev mused, “I can put this down as my public service work for my next pageant,” At least this was a better use of her time, or at least that was what Bev thought anyway.