sweet like cinnamon

astrid: ok and

astrid: hate to see it

astrid: but i couldn't have fucked oliver. the disrespect to tabby. find someone else!

astrid: how many vinces do we know??? yes ur vince. ur arlo. ur cousin.

lucy: i'm not fucking him anymore!! he got clingy. you know how it is with boys. you ignore them, and they go crazy over you, yuck

lucy: i'm too tired for a threesome. you take forever to cum anyways like, i don't need you embarrassing me in front of company!

“i mean, he was just a good guy.” she mused. “we didn’t even get anywhere near official. kinda sad it’s my one dating sitch.” she chuckled, deciding not to count lucy since she was kind of over that debacle after it being made known lucy and aj share many similarities and in truth, rosie was kind of humiliated from the situation with the traveller, she figured the odd instagram like was perhaps enough for her. “i mean, it’s not like people don’t ask me. well, boys, really. but i’m just difficult. i’ve high ass standards and i’m not prepared to compromise. even oliver, as amazing as he was, didn’t check every box for me and i couldn’t do it. like, i just can’t date or hook up for the sake of it.” she rolled onto her stomach. “and i don’t judge people who do, i’m envious. they’re living life to the fullest, kissing hot people and hooking up…but i tried with lucy and it just felt…like i don’t know if this makes sense but at night time when you’re kind of fogged with being a little lonely, it felt amazing…then when i would wake up in the morning, there would be a bit at the bottom of my stomach.” she explained. “but…she’s the first person ever who made me feel…sexy. i guess? like she’d see me in a dress and have to kiss me and she just did everything on impulse and i think my want for being wanted clouded all of that a little bit.” the blonde shrugged, embarrassed at chattering on. “how’re things going with tabby? what is happening there? i know you two were hooking up for ages, right?”

"Good," AJ agrees. "You should have high standards." And maybe if Ainsley had had high standards for herself years ago, she wouldn’t even be in this situation. But, she tries not to dwell on the past and nods her head along to Rosie. Curious, AJ bites at her lip. “What do your boxes consist of?” Secretly, she wants to know how many she checks off. She could hear Rosie ramble on forever, and ever, and never get bored. So she does exactly that, waits for Rosie to stop before interjecting. “Well, you gave it a shot, you know? Sometimes that’s all you can do. Give something a try, and you were smart enough to know when to eject yourself from the situation,” she tries to offer as advice, feels a pang of jealousy when she remembers that Lucy got to kiss Rosie, when AJ’s dreamt about that long before this even started. 

She rolls her eyes when Rosie mentions Tabby, because that’s not going anywhere. “It’s just sex,” she shrugs her shoulders. “I think I should take a page out of your book, and... not fling myself at the first person to give me attention in AJ fashion. Love myself before I love someone else and whatever else my aunt posts on Facebook,” she laughs, feels the sting of her own roast, but she’s always been honest around Rosie. Her heart feels a little heavy, and she tries to change the subject, looking right at the camera. “Can you believe I’m a senior this year? When did we grow up?”

astrid: hi i miss u

astrid: was tabby be weird when she came by

astrid: she's pining after vince

lucy: loser, i saw you two minutes ago

[the next text is sent immediately after the first]

lucy: i miss u too tho

lucy: she's a little extra, but she was alright. she really hates oliver LOL. remember the really hot guy i told you about that i met on tinder? i guess she tried to kiss him or something and he got all whack, which i believe. cause when i asked him if he would be down for a threesome with you he got all weird and boring. he was a square, so whatevs

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@brooksaroundtheworld: favorite crackhead ❤️ @damndeluca @truxlove

tabby was mildly aware of lucy — girl who looked like aj and who had popped rosie’s v-card and made aj go cuckoo bananas with jealousy, which kind of amused her, if she was honest. the whole rosie and aj situation was down right stupid to her and if someone caused a little havoc between them, tabitha loved that. plus, it was nice not to be the one doing that sometimes. even if it was her pleasure. far too comfortable in astrids place, she tossed herself down “what a little bitch, she coulda texted me.” she mused. “so, you’re the lodger with your little cousin in tow.” she mused. “so weird for astrid to let you both stay…” she said, looking at lucy with a gummy smile. “i mean, you two must be really good friends.” she commented before turning her attention back to the tv. “instant hotel, it’s hilarious. australians are nuts.”

"Why's it weird?" Lucy asks, taking a bite of her cereal and reaching for the control to turn on Netflix. There’s nothing weird about their situation — she genuinely thinks. Astrid’s her best friend. Vince is her cousin. She pays rent, and she gives Astrid orgasms? Like, why wouldn’t Astrid let her stay?  At the show, Lucy laughs. “Oh shit, I love that show. Babe and Bondi were absolute assholes, I love them.” She plays the first episode, feels a question burning on her tongue. “Did you really order 50 drinks, and trash Oliver’s work after you found out we went on a date?” There’s a smile on her face. “You’re a fucking legend.”

The question is more complicated than Nico knows–and Gabriel is somewhat aware that he’s going to have to deal with all that eventually. But that’s for Gabriel in the morning to worry about. Gabriel right now has someone pretty in his arms who seems to kinda get him and he knows he would be a moron to run away from this. “I don’t know…much,” Gabriel admitted, his cheeks flushing. “But I know I really don’t want to stop kissing you,” he explained. “I’m kinda just going with what feels right. Right now that’s this,” he said, bringing his lips to Nico’s again. The fact that this was the most secure he’d felt in a while scared him shitless–but again, that was for Gabriel tomorrow to worry about. 

When Gabriel says what feels right, Nico can't dispute it. There's butterflies erupting in his stomach, and a heat pooling in his belly. He kisses back, forgoes conversation lest he scare Gabriel away. Somehow, someway, Nico's managed to push Gabriel away from the crowd, up against a wooden pole away from the crowd. His hands tangle themselves in Gabriel’s hair — he’s always been a fan — and his body’s grinding up against Gabriel’s on instinct. “You’re a fucking good kisser, Gabe,” Nico compliments, pulls away to see Gabriel’s kiss bruised lips. So much runs through his head, and he knows one way or another he doesn’t want the night to end. “You wanna get out of here?”

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@almighty-aj: #TBT to the time we rented an airbnb n had a staycation in NYC and acted like dumb tourists. missing my other half like crazy today 🥺😩@rosies #comehome #fuckthehamptons @foreverycung

vince: i-

vince: okay

vince: no??

lucy: okay good. in that case, we're going to get you on tinder and find you a hot nyc babe!

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@brooksaroundtheworld: favorite pic of my favorite lil cuz 💝

vince: can we talk about boundaries later???

vince: no!!! that's ok!

vince: i mean she IS cute

lucy: sure we can do it now. don't go into astrid's room under any circumstances!! don't wake me up any later than 9 am, i'm FINALLY getting over the military hours and wash your fucking dishes!!! that one's the MOST important!!!

lucy: hmmmmmm

vince was groggy from the seven hour flight from london. rubbing his eyes, he collect his suitcase off the baggage carousel, and tossed his backpack filled with his camera over his shoulder. he sent a text to lucy to let her know he’d gotten off the plane and was headed towards the exit. 

finally spotting lucy (and astrid), a grin appears across his face. he laughed at her sign, a hand covering his mouth in shock (though he wasn’t really surprised by it) and shook his head. “hey, luce. long time, no see, how’s it been?” he greets her, pulling her into a big hug and then pulling astrid in a hug. “where are we going now? can we please get a burger?” 

When his hand reaches to cover his mouth, she knows she's got him. She's giggling, all laughter and strong hugs, moving him side to the side with the exertion of her grasp. "Vinny vin, vin! I’m fantastic! Even better now that you’re here.” she smiles, finally pulling away from the hug and absorbing him fully. Lucy tosses Astrid an almost worried look when he hugs her, but something in her stomach bubbles a lot like butterflies when the taller girl doesn’t murder him on sight.

“Vince this is Astrid. Astrid, this is Vince,” she officially introduces them, grinning. “She’s way hotter in person than on Facetime, right?” Lucy nudges Astrid playfully, and she helps him with his bag, throwing one arm around Astrid’s waist, and the other around Vince’s. “I’m totally down for a burger. Whaddabout you, Astro-girl?” Then, “Ugh, reminds me of the time we went to California and had In N Out, remember Vince?”

Callie: can I drag you out before that? I want to spend time with you before you leave again

Callie: yes please, oh my god. Or you could find my face between your thighs if you keep talking to me like that

Callie: why are you doing this when you’re stuck at work 😩

Callie: I want it to be over so I can touch you

ryan: fuck you're the worst. you know how wet imagining you between my thighs makes me!!

she smiled sadly as aj spoke about billie, they were important to one another’s relationship development and it was vital. just like oliver was a huge step for rosie stepping outside of her shell. “i love you, aj.” she sighed. “please don’t cry…i’m not there to hug you.” she whispered, wishing she could bundle her up right there and then. herbest friend. hers. “okay.” she smiled. “i am…so proud of how far you’ve come. you’re so confident now and i think you’ve changed for the better. i cant wait for you to feel so free one day.” she mewled. she puts the phone down and rolls to her side so she didn’t have to hold it. “i do miss oliver sometimes.” she confessed. “he’s been the closest thing i’ve ever had to dating.”

Her smile is watery, but nevertheless she’s so happy with Rosie, no matter the distance. “I love you too,” she replies instantly, and it feels heavier this time, laced with so much more than Ainsley could say at this moment. She wipes away one last tear, and feels her heart swell. “You know I couldn’t have felt this way without you, right?” AJ remembers the first time she came out to Rosie, how free she’d felt then; how she knew then and there she wanted Rosie in her life forever, and ever. When she mentions Oliver, Ainsley shakes her head. “Which, I don’t get how he’s been your first real dating sitch. You’re seriously, like, the most beautiful girl I know and the coolest. People should be lining up to date you, and I know for a fact you’re on the guy’s from Sig Chi’s ‘Cornell’s Hottest’ list.”