When I Taste Tequila

Maisie didn’t really know what to expect when it came to Marley these days. On her own time, she dwelled on the days of yester year when she and Marley were close, when Marley was her rock, her world. But the world had never been kind to the Blackwell’s and it was bound to happen to one of the three of them. Sometimes she wished it had been her instead. At least Marley’s dreams included saving lives. But never the less, she remained by her sister’s side, attempting to be whatever she needed in that moment. Today, she needed some bail money and to get out of jail and Maisie was happy to provide, especially if they could manage to slide it under Aiden’s nose. “Hey Dyl, thanks for the call. It’s all there, can I grab my sis now?”

Aiden hated the night shifts more than anything, usually the quiet town slept at night and there wasn’t ever anything to do except for paperwork. Somehow tonight there had been more than normal and so he sat at his desk, stacks of files around him and the quiet radio playing in the background. He spent his night going through each one and had gotten through three quarters of them when he heard the door open. Soon a familiar blonde walked through the door and he couldn’t help but laugh “hello little sister, it’s like you know me or something.” he grinned as he moved the papers away. “I’ll stop anything for a burger and fries.” he didn’t waste anytime getting into the bags to find his meal. “How are you? How was your night?” he asked before taking a bite from the burger.

Maisie felt a sense of pride, smiling happily when her brother went immediately in for the burger and fries. She wanted nothing more than to do right by the family that had stayed, the family that had raised her. “I mean hey, can’t go wrong with food. But I like to think I know you pretty well.” She shrugged. “Has it been a busy night? Seems quiet enough around here at least.” Maisie pulled the fries out, popping a few into her mouth as she settled in beside his desk. “I’m alright. I had a few clients at the gym that were kind of crazy today. Thought I’d take a load off at Tric but I guess its not that fun to go by myself.” She made a face. “Imagine that.” She joked sarcastically. “I miss Marley.” Maisie admitted even though she hadn’t intended to say that out loud. It felt so incredibly wrong to say when she knew Marley was right down the street, but this was her and Marley’s brother right? 

@aidenblackwxll

          “Not sure they’re looking to make friends — last I heard, they bite.” He shrugged slightly, a small smirk crossing his lips before he decided to continue. “And I’m not talking about the Jack Russell.” Well, that said it all really, didn’t it? If it wasn’t the dog, it was the woman attached to the small creature, who no doubt packed a punch too.

Maisie chuckled even though she didn’t totally want to be, "Liam! That’s horrible!” She eyed the woman and the dog. Small towns held lots of gossip which she knew all too well. There was always something about a Blackwell churning around in the gossip mill. “Yeah I’m not a little dog person. They can’t even protect you!”

chuck smirked, there wasn’t much he knew about Maisie from the little weekend they had a few years back but he did remember she was very competitive. “so no talking before hand? just go straight into the grit of it? could have sworn you liked a little foreplay.” he was of course teasing, but he would stay out of her head and allow her the chance to beat him.. if she could. he finished tightening his harness and looked over to the blonde. “whenever you’re ready.”

Maisie’s mouth dropped open at his blatant flirt, but her eyes were bright as can be of course. “Well you can talk all you want but don’t let it slow you down because just so you know if you lose I’ll never let you live it down. But then if I lose, I’ll never shut up about it so you know. Take the wall at your own risk Scolnik.” Her eyebrows raised with her counter. “Ready, set, go.” And with that Maisie took to the wall, moving quickly up to first few rocks. 

          “Now, I thought that’d get your attention,” Cosette started, tucking brunette strands behind her ear as she quickly stepped to her left, where she had placed the two drink options down whilst she awaited the blonde’s antics to be completed. Stepping back, she presented the two cocktail glasses, which was two-for-one during the festival’s running. “we’ve got a Tequila Sunrise, or a  Raspberry Woo Woo.” She offered, extending both hands and playfully bringing them back and forth, showcasing each option available to her company. “Pick your poison.”

Maisie rolled her eyes at Celeste’s words. “I should get off the rock wall anyway. But I just couldn’t help myself you know.” Maisie spoke with a shrug. “How’s the festival going? Have you and Davis got this whole thing running smooth as can be so far?” If Cosette had time to bring Maisie a drink she figured things were going alright but still wanted to check in of course. “Oh, Tequila Sunrise for sure.” Maisie took the drink with a tip of her hat. “Thank you.” 

“That’s a bummer. I wanted to know if I am still the superior fighter in our family. Between Aiden and you, I’ve always been the scrappiest but my bones are weak and my hands are delicate.” Marley pouted in jest. She hooked her arm around Maisie’s shoulders, snuggling into her sister for the gluttonous glee that radiated off her in buckets.

 “Funnel cakes make this whole thing bearable, you know?” 

“You will always be the superior fighter in the family and I’m sure Aiden will agree with me so two against one, we win.” Maisie looked down at Marley’s hands with a smile, knowing that the magic to save people every day laid within them. Marley was nothing short of a superhero and she was incredibly glad to see her. The festival had a way of bringing her down Marley popped her right back up to where she always wanted to be. 

“Tell me about it. I brought a flask of whiskey for that. In hindsight though, I really should’ve avoided the rock wall.” She chuckled. 

“Okaaay.” Ophelia said drawing the word as she stood behind her friend, trying not to laugh at how tickled Maisie was, it was no surprise since the blonde was as competitive as her, and that was something Ophelia loved about her. “C’mon, I got you somethin’ you like.” She said in a singing voice as she gently shook the bottle next to Maisie’s face. “Am I a good friend or what?” 

Even though Ophelia was providing a distraction, Maisie knew that she was with someone that she could trust, someone who appreciated even her most obvious flaws. And so the offer of the drink worked like a charm. Maisie laughed, “Am I that obvious, like a dog with a bone?” She shrugged with a nod. “Yes, you’re a great friend.”

The emotional baggage that Scott carried he rarely let anyone see it or carry it. His entire life he had been told that he was too much. That no one had willingly wanted him; his father had gotten stuck with him considering how his mother had just dropped him off and out she went from his life. On a good day, he could see that his life was not as fucked up as he thought it was. He had gotten to live out his dreams not to mention that he had made great friends in the long run. Yet there was a missing element from his life; a void that felt like a black hole that just got bigger with each passing year. There had been a time in his life that he had been certain that he had cancer but after various doctor appointments that ended up being proven to be incorrect. “I just don’t know if I can actually get over it. It’s fucking kale, who the fuck willingly eats that besides people that hate themselves?” It was a legitimate question that he had for the blonde. Now in days, you had these detox teas being spread via Instagram and diets that celebrities swear by but the reality was that they all had their personal trainer and their own gym as well as pools to get their shit. That was aside from the fact that they had the money to actually afford these new age diet shit that was broadcasted throughout Hollywood and whatever health and fitness magazines. “Nothing you do would ever get me to eat grass, Maisie. I think you should just fucking consider it a lost cause.” He concluded as her question laid on him.

About ten years ago – hell even more – he had never thought that he would be alive to see thirty-six; after all, he was a stupid teenager running around punching people and getting thrown into prison. Then when he had actually cleaned his act up and become a better man he had gotten his past used against him. His biggest fear had never been not making it big in Hollywood or not being as big as his father but rather turning like his dad. The musician brought the top of the beer as he tilted it into his mouth as the liquid made its way into his mouth. He had been searching for more in life; more than the same old cycle that everyone called life and at the same time he wanted someone to share that with, “Believe it or not I did. I wanted to get married and give up the gig and come back to Tree Hill and have my own kids to pass down the childhood that I got rob from. To share with them the love of music and see them become their own individuals.” The male had never admitted such a thought out loud; the life he had wasn’t bad it was just shallow. The whole sleeping around had been done in his twenties and when he had wanted to settle down things just had not worked out. “Now not so much. It is overrated and a sure way to end up like my parents.” He concluded the thought before taking another sip, “So what will your damage be, Maisie? Truth or dare?”  

Maisie didn’t spend much time dwelling on the emotional black holes her parents had left in their wake. In fact, she spent the majority of her time filling those holes up with her siblings love and care, as well as the care taken by her friend family in Tree Hill. To dwell on the fact that her parents couldn’t be bothered to love any of their children enough to break free from the shackles of their addictions seemed like a disservice to the people who had taken their time to make Maisie’s life as amazing as it had ended up becoming despite them. And also, dwelling on it was extremely depressing, especially when nothing good could come from it being that it was in her past. The Burning Boat Festival just seemed to push her to dwell on the past, therefore, it was stupid, at least for her. Of course Maisie did see the upside for others in Tree Hill. But not for her, and so it seemed on this evening, not for Scott either. “You know what, if kale is going to be the one thing about that is unforgivable then I guess we are doing alright.” Maisie offered him a genuine smile, feeling in that moment, a gratitude for his company very much. “But no see that is not something I’ll be doing. Giving up is really not the Blackwell way and winning is the Maisie way so we shall see, we shall see.” 

She listened intently to his answer, cocking her head curiously as he spoke so genuinely. It was Scott Keller unfiltered, something that he’d offered with his little game of ‘Truth or Dare’. It surprised her a little bit that he had been so interested in a family once before, Scott seeming like he was always on the go, never waiting around too long to let his baggage nip at his heels. A smile bloomed onto her face knowing that he had held out this hope for his life to become this oasis for him and in Tree Hill no less. Her smile remained even when he had finished with having lost in faith in a family. Maisie hoped that he got that one day and she knew there was plenty of time for his mind to change. Plus, the fact that he’d once wanted it meant that it might even be easier for him to want it once again. She nodded once he’d finished. “Well if I believed that I would end up like my parents, then I would definitely not be here right now.” Maisie’s face scrunched up at just the thought. But Maisie didn’t judge him one bit for how he felt, nor did she feel like she wanted to respond all that much to what he’d said because it didn’t seem fair. His truth was his truth and just that. “Alright well to even the playing field I’ll also take a truth. I’m all yours Keller.”

He didn’t mean to be an asshole; people just made it really easy to be one. They would ask or say the most stupid shit ever and with all the crap he had been shoved to deal with at an early age his filter and patience had managed to grow thin. There were moments that he did think that he should be a better man but for the most part he had learn to come and accept the asshole that he truly was without any regrets. It made having friendships a bit more complicated than usual since he had to go outside of his bandmates to find someone he could tolerate and joke with. Thankfully he was not too lost considering that he did have Liam Bryant by his side for everything and there had been a time where Celeste had been there too; but that was a part of his life he did not want to touch tonight. “You know I am seriously considering this friendship because this whole kale green hipster shit you have might get you a lot of Instagram followers but I just don’t know if I would ever click that follow button,” A point that was proven to be mute considering that the musician had been following Maisie for a couple of years now. “I never did enjoy this event,” he said honestly and without a crass joke like he had with everyone else, “My father used to bring me when I was younger. Said we had the power to get rid of terrible things and I decided at that moment that the whole burning things with fire were a bit dramatic. Then the years went on and I never did want to get rid of things just wanted to find things – if that makes sense.” Just like his father Chris Keller. That was one of the many areas that he was different from his father. Scott preferred the simple humble life. He didn’t care much for the money or the fame; all he wanted was to play his music and touch souls – make a difference. Be the cd that kid that was going through a hard time that would seek some safe haven in his music, as he rubbed his chin the following laughs that drop from his mouth weren’t from the buzz, “Do you not think you’re a bit too old to be doing the whole hashtag? Or are we still young enough to do so? And what are your opinions on fuck boys?” He inquired before grabbing another Budweiser beer. “Hit me with truth – let’s warm up, hit me with your best shot, Blackwell.”

Maisie was often smiles and a bubble of happiness but there was definitely a deeper, darker side to her that she preferred to keep hidden. It wasn’t about hiding it from people, but about her own standards and sense of self. She knew that she could be better than the girl in high school who had rampaged through it an attitude like no one could touch her for a single moment. But these days she wanted to prove that she had made it through college and into her early twenties as a grown up young woman. Most days, it was easy to let go of the person she had once been. But Burning Boat stressed her out a bit because she knew the bad memories that this festival was supposed to be about leaving behind, would start to nip at her heels like no other. On most days she could relish in the happiness that the people of the town would fill her up with, but she wasn’t so sure about what the night would bring. She hoped that she could ride the wave of this fun start to the night with Scott, all the way on through. “You know you really need to get over this whole kale thing. What would I have to do to get you to give it a try? Because I will make you the best damn kale dish there is, at least you can count on me for that.” Her eyebrows raised with a smile as her hands ran gently through her blonde locks. Maisie nodded as she listened to him, laughing lightly when he mentioned the bit about the burning of the boat being a bit dramatic. He was definitely right about that. Maisie shrugged, “It sort of makes sense. I’m not exactly sure what you’re getting at with the finding stuff but maybe I gave up on finding stuff a while ago.” Her hands grazed over the grass a few times as her eyes stared down at it for a moment before she brought her eyes back up. She wasn’t sure if they were even on the same page at all about what they were talking about but that didn’t really matter to her. It felt nice to say it out loud even if he didn’t quite understand. But once again she was falling easy back into their normal state of laughter. “I don’t know, just seemed to be a fitting phrase there to encompass all that. The kids seem to know what they’re doing. And personally, I enjoy myself a good fuck boy for as long as I can use him to my advantage.” She spoke truthfully with a shrug, now focusing in on their little game. Maisie had a question that popped into her head immediately and even though Scott asked her to hit her with her best shot, Maisie wouldn’t put him on the spot like that. “Alright, do you want to be a dad with kids and white picket fence and all of that?”