lucid dreams . . . .

As much as her boyfriend wanted to assure her that he wasn’t worried, he seemed pretty worried in that moment. And come on, rightfully so. This was his little brother and one of his closest friends running around a junkyard for some medallion. “It is pretty cool that they are out there, doing this. Like, I could never in a million years do something like this,’’ Rosie told Braxton, but Miles and Serena were and that made them tough as hell in her eyes. “I haven’t, but I’m like really worried about her. Like, Arden is one of my favorite people in the entire world, so I’d hate it if she got hurt because of this. I get why she’s doing it and honestly, she deserves this so much— no offense, but I’d hate it if she got hurt.” She said with a small pout, before taking a small sip from her glass. “But no one is going to get hurt, I’m like putting that out into the universe.” Rosie said, not wanting Braxton’s mind to wander. “And you’ll be teasing Miles tomorrow, like nothing happened.”

Braxton actually laughed a little, picturing his girlfriend in such a position clearly making him laugh. Rosie wasn’t the most athletic out there, but he knew what drove people to do things like this. Even he had considered doing Panic this time around, but eventually had decided to put in more hours into his job. After all, it was something that was helping pay the bills at home more than ever before. “Don’t tell them I said this, but they’re pretty damn badass.” He admitted playfully, setting his flute down carefully and sleeping an arm around his girlfriend, his eyes moving away from the screen and back to her. Focusing on her wasn’t hard at all, anyway. “That’s not an offense. I’m rooting for her too. I think multiple people can win this round and I hope she’s one of them. By the way, if she’s made it this far, she seems to know what she’s doing. I think she’s got this.” He told her reassuringly. Hoping that would really be the case, that everyone would be home safe by the end of the night. 

“Yeah, that’s me.” Axel said, hoping that she hadn’t somehow ruined his life while she’d been in Rosewood. Coming back, she had come face to face with some of those people. “I hope that realization comes with happy memories, not memories of me throwing yogurt at your head.” Axel nodded, as she definitely saw how the South Siders had an advantage in this game. While, she herself came from the same neighborhood— she couldn’t tell you the first thing about junkyards or anything of the sort. “Just Jamie really.”

Braxton laughed a little, remembering some of the stories about her. Hell, he had seen what some of his own friends had done back in the day. His stay with the group was temporary, but people still respected him a little more than the average not popular guy. “I just remember your face. I used to hang out with some of your friends, I think. But they gave my brother a hard time and I eventually decided it wasn’t worth it.” He shrugged, not really caring for that time of his life. He was happy now, even if back in the day, he’d felt like he had lost a lot of things. “I hope he does well too. Have you seen him yet?”

Rosie had felt like New Years Eve had been her grand return to Rosewood’s social scene. It’d almost felt like life hadn’t really changed much since the last time she found herself at one of these big ol’ events. All the feature players were still there, there was still gorgeous clothes and it’s fair share of drama. It’d felt nice to be back, but that all left the second cellphones started to light up all around them. Apparently, a bunch of their peers— including her bestie Arden, had involved themselves in some game. Panic. And now, she was watching Arden from a live stream, looking through some junkyard for some coin or something. “Yeah, I’m definitely going to need some of that.” Rosie said with a small sigh, only imagining how he was feeling. “Baby, Miles and Serena will be more than okay. You’ll see.” Rosie told him, hoping to help ease his mind somehow. “For all we know, Miles or Serena could come back winners.”

Brax nodded a little, opening the bottle of champagne almost carelessly and pouring some of the liquid in the empty flutes. “I know, I know. They got this.” He wasn’t a worrier, but Braxton knew what Panic could do to people, he didn’t ever imagined any of his loved ones if situations like this one. “And that’s what we’re all hoping. I’m honestly in awe of both of them.” Braxton admitted as he handed her the drink and then almost gulped his down in one go. “How’s your girl doing? Have you seen her yet?” He asked curiously, since he was aware that one of her close friends was also in the run for champion. Honestly, it felt good to have someone to talk about things like this one, since Braxton had pretty much tried to bottle up his feelings all his life. He was the eldest, therefore he always felt like he had to be so strong. With everything going on for the Walsh’s, it felt so nice to be able to talk to Rosie and feel understood even if her world was completely different to his.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Axel told who she knew to be Braxton Walsh. While she might have been gone, she still very much remembered faces. Especially ones as handsome as his. It was her talent back in her queen bee days. “Panic, it’s no joke.” Having experienced it first hand, she felt for his sibling and friend. “I actually only know one person playing this time around. Isn’t that crazy?” That goes to show how much time changes things. “But I hear the Claymore kid is someone to keep our eyes on. And I’ll definitely be rooting for my friend, Jamie.”

“It’s alright. I’m sure they can handle it.” Braxton said with a small smile and a shrug. Honestly, if they had made it this far, what would stop them, after all. “You’re Axel, right?” He asked slowly, hoping he remembered that right from the few months that he hung around the it crowd in Rosewood in his teenage years. “Oh yeah. Claymore, any of the Greasers. Honestly, I feel like the South Siders could do really good on this one challenge. Who do you know?”

**

“All I do is care, some would say I care too much.” Collin did not envy the Panic contestants. For one, everything he’s ever heard about the competition practically gave him second hand anxiety and his parents would kill him if he got caught or hurt or something, “I guess you make a good point. So you don’t think I’m overdressed then?” 

“You sound like my little brother. Weirdly enough, he’s still playing out there.” Braxton would be the first to admit  that he was surprised by Miles, but he was even prouder. His younger brother was proving everyone wrong and going for what he wanted. That was something that couldn’t be said about Braxton, really. He’d never had the guts. “Nah, dude. You look awesome. I like that thing that says Dior. Never seen anything like it before.”

**

“Exactly, it’s Rosewood. There’s always a dress code, even when there isn’t one.” 

“I think some people just don’t care. But just think about it, if any of them that dress like this ended up at the Panic challenge, they lucked out.” Braxton said with a small smile. “Imagine going through that in five inch heels and a little black dress, you know?”

“Okay seriously, what is the dress code here tonight? Suddenly I’m feeling overdressed.” Collin groaned as he saw a dude walk by in joggers and a Carhartt shirt. He’d actually left his apartment feeling pretty sharp but looking at some of the other guys at the party, now he wasn’t so sure.

“Technically, there isn’t an established dress code for the night. But I mean, it’s Rosewood.” Brax shrugged. He would be one of those underdressed guys if it weren’t for his girlfriend helping him out, honestly. 

Being back in Rosewood, Axel had caught up on some of the happenings at the moment. But no one had mentioned that Panic had managed to make a comeback. Her eyes went wide as the television screens at the parties turned from the ball dropping on Times Square to that of some of her peers rummaging through a junk yard. “Well, this just got interesting.” Axel commented with a sip from her cocktail.

“It’s pretty cool until I remember that my little brother and a very close friend are battling it out there.” Braxton admitted, his eyes glued to the screen since he was hoping to see any of the people that he cared about. Panic was definitely making him feel panicky, even if he knew they could handle themselves. “Anyone you’re rooting for?”

Rosie had the exact same track record as her boyfriend. Yes, she’d dated but she’d never been all that serious with any guy… well, until Braxton. Sure, she was still close to Kieran and she very much considered him a friend, but Braxton— well, he was the guy that she really liked. So much so, that she really wanted this to work out. As she’d been in deep thought, his lips had found hers. It’s almost like he could read her mind. “You shouldn’t have done that.” Rosie joked, flattered that he’d done so. “But, I’m also not against you having done that.” She nodded as she spoke. He’d lost her at smart people. “Oh, I already know I’m going to suck at this.” Rosie grinned as he brought up his brother and his brother’s girlfriend. “Radley being the super tall one that really likes movies and Serena’s the kick ass girlfriend, right? You know her mom is like major pageant royalty.” What? Rosie’s been doing her job on remembering who’s who in his inner circle. She also remembered Miles as his quiet little brother, Agnes as his fashion forward girlfriend and Rowan being the genius of their group.

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re amazing.” Brax said as if it were a silly question coming from her. She was normally more confident, but he could understand being nervous. He was more than sure that his family would like her, he wasn’t even worried. Rosie was honestly so good to him, they were good to each other, so what was there not to like about her? He laughed softly as he slipped his arms around her waist, trying to be supportive. “Don’t worry, we’ll sneak up to another room while they play. That’s what my parents do too.” He nodded eagerly, genuinely surprised by her knowledge of his family already. It honestly made him feel even better about bringing her home. She cared so much that she was willing to learn all of this about people she hadn’t even met. “That is right. They’re like cats and dogs, but also adorable, I guess. And there’s Miles, he is super smart too. I feel like you and Agnes would get along really great and Data, she’s the biggest genius. I don’t understand half the words that leave her mouth, honestly. But she’s nice.”

“I know, I’ve got taste or whatever.” Rosie told Braxton with a playful flip of her hair. Rosie did like to think she had taste though. Her closet was jam packed of beautiful things. She had an incredible circle of friends. And well, look at her boyfriend. He had to be like one of the most gorgeous guys in Rosewood. “Oh, it’s so much fun. Next year, we’ll so do my house, okay?” Rosie said, holding out her pinky for him to take as they’d make a promise to do so. They’d already survived having a whole baby together, who’s to say they couldn’t make it another year? “Braxton, I would never think your family is lame. They are your family, no one related to you could ever be lame.” Rosie scoffed, before shaking her head. “No way, I’m the first girlfriend you’ve brought home? That’s like major, B.” Rosie told him, as that now put pressure on her. She’s got to set the mark for girlfriends. Not that she wasn’t the best of the best, but some people just didn’t care for her. Oh my god, what if his mother didn’t care for her? She wouldn’t blame her. “Wait, what’s Pictionary?” She asked him, having been snapped out of her inner freakout session.

Braxton smiled widely as he laced his pinky finger with hers. He thought it was so adorable that she was thinking so far ahead for them, but honestly, he was more than happy with her and what they had. They just worked. “I’d like that a lot.” Honestly, after the year they’d had and how things had just fell into place for them to be together, Braxton had no doubts that they could make it another year. Several years even. He slipped the sweater off, setting it down to his right to make sure to take that one home with them and then leaned over to kiss her lips quickly. That was the thing though, a lot of people could consider them that. Especially people with money like Rosie. But she never had and he really liked that. “Indeed you are. I’ve never really been with anyone else for this long. And I’ve been hyping you up all week.” Braxton admitted easily as he slipped on his shirt and then turned to look back at her. “It’s this board game for smart people where you have to know and guess things. I always lose. So I suggest you team up with Rad or Serena if you get the chance.” He joked lightly.

“Okay, you got me, you got me.” Rosie told her boyfriend, holding her hands up as he’d definitely told her. “Happily.” She let Braxton know, as she scanned what was her favorite choice out of the sweaters she’d pulled out for him. Clearly the itchy one wouldn’t be going home with them, but there was still many options in front of them. “Highkey, I love this one.” Rosie held it out towards Braxton. “Aw, that sounds so cute.” Rosie said with a small pout. From what she’d heard, his family was just so… home-y. It was a pleasant change of pace from her own. “Oh, mine is nothing like that. We are very flashy, we wear like ballgowns to dinner and it’s very much a bragfest about all the amazing things we’ve done during the year. I mean, it’s not terrible because we are so supportive of each other, but like we don’t get board games.” Rosie explained. “I’m so excited to be with your family and the McCarthys.”

“That’s...okay, I’ll admit that one is actually pretty cool.” He wasn’t really into fashion like his girlfriend was, but he could admire a cool looking piece. Braxton nodded a little. It as easy to forget that her family had all that money since it was never really a topic of conversation for them. He just thought it was amazing that she was choosing to spend Thanksgiving with his family over all of that, since he knew she loved that atmosphere. “That all sounds very fun too though.” He wouldn’t ever change his mom’s cooking for anything else, but he could see it being a nice change. Braxton slipped on the sweater she gave him, making sure it looked nice and grinned. “I hope you don’t think we’re lame once you actually see what it’s like.” He teased lightly. “My mom is lowkey freaking out about having you there since I’ve never brought anyone home before and I am super excited to have someone there that might be as lost as me while we play Pictionary.” 

“They are not itchy.” Rosie playfully rolled her eyes, as she smoothed over the sweater that he’d just put on. “Well, actually, this is a bit itchy.” She said with a small giggle, a scrunch of her nose letting him know that she wasn’t really a fan of this one. Why? Because she knew that whatever Braxton bought, she’d be stealing it for herself eventually so she needed to get something they both liked. “And who’s complaining about that?” She asked him, looking around as if someone was going to speak up. “Well, aside from you. But you’re like doing a civil service for all of us when you wear those really cute tight sweaters.” Rosie said, before pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “So… like, what’s a Walsh Thanksgiving like?”

“Told you.” Braxton said playfully as he got his hands on a white button down shirt. He was more of a t-shirt kind of guy all around, but he knew that he could pull off just about any item of clothing that he chose to wear. “Okaaay, if you like sweaters on me so much, why don’t you pick one out for me? One that’s not itchy though.” Worst case scenario, he could wear a shirt under it and no one would notice, he figured. He smiles against her lips as he fixed the collar of the shirt and shrugged a little. “Basically traditional dinner, pecan pie. Sometimes Miles and Radley make us all play one of those boring board games. What’s your Thanksgiving usually like?”

“I’m not busy. I’m j-just trying to feel productive. If I’m not doing s-something the chances are I’ll be in my head or m-moping, and both of those options have made me f-feel pretty shitty about myself over the p-past few weeks so I’m not eager to j-jump back into it.” Miles shook his head before raising a hand to fix his hair. If he could do something to help take his mind off things then he would. Anything was better than dwelling on his relationship. “Uh, no. I d-don’t know anything about that. You haven’t mentioned any g-girls in- I can’t even remember how l-long it’s been. N-new girlfriend?”

Miles didn’t have to go into details for Braxton to know exactly what he was talking about. He had those moments too, they were few but still frustrating. “You wanna work out some time with me? That usually helps me get some of the edge off.” Braxton offered, even if he was more than sure that his youngest brother wouldn’t take him up on it. He knew it wasn’t Miles thing. “Uh, not exactly. We’ve been hanging out for like a year or something. So I feel like I would be a jackass if I called her anything other than girlfriend at this point, you know?” He hadn’t purposely hid his relationship with Rosie, but he hadn’t been too loud about it either, just because it felt nice that it stayed between them. “So not exactly new, but definitely girlfriend, yes.”

Miles tried to stay out of the Walsh home as much as he could. Being in the place only served to remind him of the home they’d lost, something that made him feel guilty about every time he saw how hard his parents were trying to make things as normal as possible. So it wasn’t a surprise that he was zoned out enough that the pillow Braxton threw in his direction managed to smack his face before flopping towards the ground. “Wh- the f-fact that you think that I’m the brother who can think f-fast really makes me doubt that we’re r-related,” he teased, smiling in his brother’s direction. “I think I m-might head over to Data’s but I d-don’t actually have anything p-planned out. What are you doing?”

Braxton laughed even more as his brother failed to catch the pillow, shaking his head. “I feel like I would get the same reaction out of Radley, so I just do it and try not to have as many expectations.” He teased easily. Sure, the Walsh’s were all very different but that was part of their charm, or so he assumed. “Not much either since you’ll be busy I might go see Rosie if she’s not busy, you know, the usual.”

Blair nodded, not exactly accepting what Braxton had to say as her reality, but sure, eventually they all dealt with someone who was plastered. “Yeah, they aren’t all that rowdy. But the biggest of my problems hasn’t made his presence known yet. I’m sure that’ll be the one to get fucked tonight.” Blair said, referring to Flynn. “That’s right. You’ve got like your own little army, don’t you?” She nodded, as she recalled that the Walsh’s were quite the large family. “Consider yourself lucky, meanwhile is known as the literal life of the party around here.”

“Oh yeah, your bro probably counts for all two of mine.” Brax murmured playfully, after all, Flynn Bueller had quite the reputation. He was a pretty cool guy though. “I got a big family, but I feel like I’m the one that has more chances to get fucked up out of all of them, if I’m honest.”