Better than you doing you

a seemingly permanent fond smile is etched onto her face, but can you blame the girl ?? she was about to see her closest group of friends after a long five years. “ aw, bo !! always the charmer. ” it took a moment for her to get comfortable with the bags in her arms once more, before taking a few steps towards him and her room. “ you look great, did you get a tan ?? where’d you go to get a tan like that ?? maybe i should visit, though i usually just burn. ” she babbled, nodding for him to walk with her.

Reina seemed to be the exact opposite of Bo. She seemed to be genuinely excited to be here. Like she wanted to and was looking forward to seeing everyone. He wished he could be at least a sliver as excited as that. But he was left to just fake it. “Oh nowhere fancy. Just Africa,” he answered, shrugging. Bo caught onto the action, following with her. “Enough about me though. What’ve you been up to?” Keeping the conversation off of himself was going to be the key in this whole situation.

   — ♡ ❝ she gives a hushed laugh, a roll of her eyes. and then raises a hand and makes a motion with her fingers, after which matilda stands and pads over to him, laying down alongside him. and then she nods towards a nearby tool case, turning back to her work. SHE’S NOT TECHNICALLY DOMESTICATED. SHE ONLY LISTENS TO ME. YOU KNOW… OCELOTS ARE DEADLY. a pause and then she explains further. BUT I MEANT THE TOOL KIT. IT HAS MY THROWING KNIVES IN IT.

The last thing Bo had been expecting was a big cat to be part of this vacation-- if you could even call it a vacation. “Of course she’s not domesticated. She’s a wild animal and she always will be. Stunning though. Absolutely stunning. And I’m aware they’re deadly but I work with lions literally on a daily basis. I can handle myself.” His eyes shifted off the animal to the kit she was talking about. “You’ve got throwing knives too? Doesn’t your life just sounds like a giant adventure.”

“Quite a while? It feels like we were all here just yesterday.” The brunette teased playfully bumping the others arm in attempt to make small talk. If it wasn’t obvious enough this was the last place Joey wanted to be, that was was clear right about now. With an eyebrow cocking at the familiar brand name, it only took mere seconds for her throat to dry causing skin to warm. “I know that feeling..” Joey mumbled scratching her wrist, quickly pulling herself back to reality.  “Well hey, what has life for Mr. Bo looked like the past five years? I heard about ten rumors you died in some foreign land, and about two you married some sort of princess.”

“Those don’t sound like they’re that far off from the truth. I do like the sounds of that marrying a princess thing though. I mean, I’ve been working on a sanctuary in Africa. Mostly with the lions. Which-- oddly enough, I think I’d feel more at ease right now if you locked me in a room with all of them than I am being here,” Bo stated with a nod, shoveling his hands into his pockets. “Tell me you’ve at least been up to something interesting? It is you, after all. So I’m sure you’ve got some stories to tell.”

Paisley thought she’d prepared herself for everything in terms of this trip. She’d spent hours watching videos and talking to alumni of the school she claimed to attend, covering her tracks before she could lay them. However, nothing could have prepared her for Bo actually showing up. His voice alone was enough to send shivers down her spine, she hadn’t been ready to face him, not yet. “Could say the same for you,” her voice was cold, remaining unmoved as she glared at the scene ahead. 

Out of all the people he knew he was going to see Paisley was by far, simultaneously, the one he was dreading the most and least. His stomach dropped the instant he saw her. Bo didn’t have a single clue what he was going to say. While he knew he’d screwed up big time he wasn’t planning on admitting that anytime soon. “It’s uhm-- nice to see you.” Shoving his hands into his pockets Bo cast his eyes down to the ground. “Africa.” It was just a single word without any attached reference. “--That’s where I’ve been,” he added. After five years he knew he owed his best friend, if he could still call her that, more of an explanation but it was all he could manage to muster.

it’s taking all he has not to down the shot & pour five more — his entire body is aching for it , a need both physical & mental. but julian has no intention of revealing himself , at least , not so SOON. though it’s doubtful bo would even care ; the male isn’t exactly the patron saint of self - control. 

knocking back the shot with ease , he nearly chokes at bo’s reply. ❝AFRICA ? are you fucking with me ? ❞

Bo downed his own shot, pouring another for both of them. “I’m not imaginative enough to come up with Africa out of thin air. I was literally tagging a baby lion two days ago, Julian. Fucking crazy shit,” he shook his head, taking his second shot. “I can tell you that it’s a lot better than being here, that’s for sure.”

Doing just about everything they could to get out of this gathering, Joey was practically forced by her parents to attempt enjoying the summer with friends. If she was being honest it was more so embarrassment that kept her on the opposing side. The people– Her friends had relatively successful lives, attending some well known universities or traveling half way across the world, while Joey found herself in rehab clinics more than the community college she told them all about attending. Maybe Jo could use this break more than she’d like to admit. Watching the waves break over the shore she was quickly pulled from her own thoughts at the sound of a familiar voice. “Well if it isn’t the infamous Bo Mulani – I never thought I’d see that face again, who talked you into coming back?”

Bo wanted to be in and out of here as fast as he could. Maybe he could just stay in his room the whole time or say his polite introductions and slip out the back and no one would be the wiser. Of course the moment someone else spoke to him he knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth as he looked at the girl, “My, my, my, if isn’t Joey. Been quite a while hasn’t it?” he asked with a small chuckle. “Good old friend named Jack, actually. Jack Daniels if we’re being formal. Apparently, as crazy as it sounds, this sounded like a good idea when I got about halfway in.”

a wave of relief washed over julian , like sunshine. it helped considerably that bo had said the magic word — LIQUOR. but his tone was just as he remembered it , & it was suddenly if no time had passed at all. things were always easy between them , though julian had certainly taken it for granted.

❝ you read my fuckin’ mind , bo. ❞ he clapped a hand against the other’s back , steering them both towards the kitchen. a seemingly endless amount of cupboards later & they had their prize : a half - full bottle of GREY GOOSE. not his first choice , but then again , julian wasn’t one to turn away any sort of alcohol.

pouring them both a shot , he takes a stab at conversation. ( not exactly his strong suit. )

❝ what have you been up to ? you look , uh , ❞ a pause. ❝ … tan. ❞

Thank god it had worked. He was certain his reunions with everyone else weren’t going to go this smooth so he figured he might as well relish in it. His nerves starting to simmer with the prospect of alcohol he walked with Julian to the kitchen. “I guess it’ll do,” Bo nodded, looking at the bottle. Rummaging through the cupboard he pulled out the first two glasses he could get his hands on. Julian’s comment pulled a laugh from Bo as he leaned against the counter. “I’m half Indian, Julian. I’ve always been tan.” The brunette screwed the top off the bottle, playing with it in his hand for a second before looking back at Julian and speaking up again. “But uh-- Yeah. Maybe a bit tanner... I’ve been working. I’ve been in Africa so that tends to happen,” he shrugged, as if it was an everyday thing you heard someone’s been in Africa for the past five years. “You been up to anything worth sharing about?”

understandably , julian was AFRAID. facing these people — arguable the most important people in his life , past , present , & future — after so long. it was objectively terrifying , especially after the way they parted. some fracturing away abruptly ; without notice or forewarning. others gradually slipping away , the texts getting shorter and less frequent. it was the natural order of things : people grow apart. 

so he was skulking around in the foyer , avoiding the hum of conversation that vibrated through the house. it was an itch at the base of his skull , this fear. fear of disappointing & being disappointed. at this moment , nothing mattered to him more. what a fucking nightmare.

( & that was his cue to bolt. )

one hand was outstretched , just inches away from the door as it swung open. julian froze , eyes focusing on the intruder.

a heartbeat later & small grin revealed itself ; BO. he’d been one of those who just disappeared ( surprising absolutely NO ONE. ) sure , julian could have been hurt , but he had no room to talk — he’d done the same thing , essentially. 

❝ yeah , it’s almost as if it was PLANNED. ❞

Bo recognized the look on the other’s face, his body language more than familiar. In fact it’s just the same as his own had been a moment before stepping into the house. It was still Julian though, someone Bo thankfully knew probably wouldn’t care he’d disappeared into thin air. “Back yourself up, J. If anyone gets to leave first it’s me,” Bo said, flashing back a small smile at his old friend. A few seconds of quiet started to settle into the air before Bo reverted to a tactic he knew had worked in the past, hoping it still would. “So-- is this the part where we go see if there’s any liquor stocked in here? Because I don’t know about you but I need a fucking drink already.”

  — ♡ ❝ NOT THAT YOU WOULD, BUT DON’T TOUCH THAT. there’s no indication as to what ‘that’ is, besides the large jungle cat seated silently next to her. she’s sitting crosslegged on the ground, a notebook open in her lap as she writes something down with a fancy pen. DON’T DO IT TO BE A DICK EITHER. I PROMISE YOU’LL REGRET IT.

Bo, after a few seconds of silence, broke his eyes away from the animal to look at his old friend, before back to the cat. “I can tell you that literally all I want to do right now is touch her. But I won’t because that would be stupid.” Sitting down a fair distance away a genuine smile swept over his face. “Damn, she’s gorgeous. I mean, I’ve worked with a few Servals but I’ve can say this is the first time I’ve been this close to an Ocelot.”

the flower business had been going surprisingly well, so well that reina was able to take the summer as a vacation while her manager ( hopefully ) kept the place running. clad in overalls and a white, shoulderless shirt, the blonde began to lug her bags towards her room, when she noticed a familiar frame. though their face was turned, she’d recognize them anywhere. “ hey stranger, ” rei spoke up, a bright smile on her face.

Bo was still getting settled in. Well, as settled in as he was probably going to be able to get this entire time. Maybe he could make up an excuse and leave in a week. Facing everything he’d left behind five years ago was making him uneasy already. When he heard her voice he turned, eyes falling on a familiar face. “Rei,” he said fondly, flashing her back a smile. “You look-- well, quite frankly you look great.”

                   small sock covered feet were running across the hardwood floor as nikita was able to notice a small car pull into the driveway. her chocolate irises weren’t able to decipher just exactly whom it was, however she wasn’t going to run up on however this was. of course everyone who was coming knew everyone but that didn’t mean she was either excited to see them or wanted to see them. slightly hiding herself behind the plastered wall it was only when she was able to see the figure come into the home she slid from behind the wall giggling lightly. ‘ well if it isn’t the one and only, mighty bo  young. one of my favorite people i love to antagonize.  — i know right ? who would’ve thought that the infamous nikita white would show up and  be on time. ’

Bo spread a smile on his face. Part of him was actually excited to see the small figure who stood in front of him. She didn’t seem to hate him so he was off to a good start as far as he was concerned. “Looks to me like the infamous Nikita White hasn’t hit that growth spurt yet either. Have you, squirt?” He retorted, raising a brow.