- ̗̀ losers club member ̖́-

“Oh Terrence, my super smart partner in crime, how I’ve missed you. I have not been able to find anyone in England who can match my energy in such a cool cool cool cool definitely awesome and amazing way like you. They’ve got great tea though. Gossip and actual tea. I liked their black tea the best, but my friends would cringe when I said it.” As Terrence shut the door behind him, Isadora took a step back. “Wow… you have been busy… And not with another forest girl… And by the way, that is over. Like… Over over. For realsies this time. No big deal. I’m over it. It’s fine. It’s whatever.” He tapped the wall at an unknown word, causing her eyes to squint in confusion. “Ooooooo, okay okay. Walk me through… All of this. So Syrup is now a vampire because someone has been giving Huxley hickeys, and there’s no way anyone would give Huxley a hickey. I mean, without bribes at least. Who else in the class has these suspicious markings? And why do you believe that it’s Syrup specifically?”

“I missed you too! I’ve been hangin’ with Burgundy, but she likes talking about my moms more than the Fresno Night Crawler. It’s fine though, she’d start going on about my moms and I’d just distract myself by looking at her giant-- . . . eyes. Her eyes. And hell yeah I’m way cooler than tea. I’m colder than iced tea, dude.” Terrence turned his attention back to her, giving her a look to show he wasn’t convinced. If it were anyone but Andrew then maybe he would have told her to follow her heart and just have an adult conversation with him-- however the idea of his best friend and his cousin swapping spit again made him gag. “Good. He’s a degenerate punk, Dora. The only criminal you should be messing around with is Mothman, who’s wanted in the state of West Virginia for tampering with the Silver Bridge.” 

Terrence actually didn’t have much proof, just theories formed in the madness of nighttime by Reddit scrolling and Monster energy drinks. “Okay so like hear me out-- Remember we read Dracula freshman year? Well more like you and I just watched Dracula with Keanu Reeves, but that’s besides the point. Anyway, remember how the girl who isn’t Winona Ryder dies and then weird shit starts happening? Well no one knows if Syrup died or not, she just sorta vanished. What if a vampire took her away, made her his weird child vampire like in an Anne Rice book, and now she’s back feeding on people?" Terrence moved the chalk over to a list of classmates. “All 10 of these people have showed up with marks on their neck.” he said, once again clueless to the fact that his ex classmates were just incredibly horny. “C’mon it’s gotta be a vampire!"

“Roll a J in the woods and try to burn it down? That’s kind of fucked up, Sherri. You’re starting to sound like Andrew, trying to burn shit down all the time. I’m down to go to an abandoned building instead, burning plants just seems wrong to me. Did the election finish up? I’ve barely been paying attention. Not really my cup of tea.” He paused for a moment at the mention of his mom, then let loose a quiet shrug. “I dunno. I doubt she would even know what was going on. Didn’t know much towards the end.” 

“That’s different. Andrew wants to burn things down because he’s still all angsty since him and his girlfriend broke up-- I just want to burn things because I’m a Sagittarius.” she corrected. “Ugh, what a wuss. Fine, we can go to an abandoned building. At least you’re willing to compromise. Last time Andrew and I wanted to go leave flaming dog poop bags on the stoop of the police station, Carmen started flippin’ shit on us.” Sherri carefully put the bottle back in her backpack before the two skated downtown to one of the abandoned houses from when some locals had the luxury to flee during Trivium era. “Geeze, Milo, must be a privilege to not pay attention to politics.” she spoke, taking a prerolled joint out from an Altoid box in her bag. “Politics is like having ‘the talk’ with your parents. Nobody likes it, but you gotta pay attention because there’s some useful information there.” Sherri inhaled, passing the joint to Milo. “Aren’t you gay? Shouldn’t you have been just as freaked as Cec and I that we were gunna get sent away to Mike Pence’s Summer Camp?”

( @doverlosers​ )

“Hey, so, now that I’m back, I want to get right back to it. Where should we go next?” Isadora bounced on her toes, tilting her head back and forth. “Do you have a weird place around town that we could try to investigate for clues? Or or or we could take a road trip and try to interview people who have had live encounters with real crytpids… Also… Has Bigfoot texted you back yet?”

“I’m glad you’ve asked, Dora the Urban Explorer, because, much like Lizzo in the song Tempo, I’ve been waitin’ for this!” Terrence shut his door to reveal that he had painted the entire wall facing his desk with chalk paint. The scribblings looked like that of a madman or an early onset dementia patient, but Terrence seemed to be able to read his handwriting easily. “Haha make fun of me for hooking up with that girl in the woods all you want, but at least I didn’t date the literal most annoying person in Dover Hills like someone did.” he said, frantically circling some Terrenceglyphics that he expected the girl to understand as he tapped the word with his chalk. “You remember my cousin Syrup? How she disappeared and shit? Well I have a theory that she was turned into a vampire and has been terrorizing the entire graduating class all year. You see the marks on Huxley Hugstable’s neck?? Definitely a vampire.” he nodded confidently, clueless to the fact that it was actually one of the sophomore girls who had been giving everyone hickies. “I think we should look into it.”

// @atmcspheres​

// @sqvirtlesqvad

Cecily walked into the others dressing room, having seen the distress she’d seemed to be in. “I’m glad I came you did great!” they said, giving the other a bright smile before moving closer. “Despite whatever was going on up there. Are you okay? I was worried about you when I saw how much pain you seemed to be up there.” They pulled a huge bundle of flowers from behind their back extending them to her. “I know these aren’t really gonna like help or anything but I figured I’d get you some. That’s something people totally do with theatre right?” 

Sherri let out a nervous laugh as she continued to blot her eyes dry, ". . . Not really. . . I had glass in my pointe shoes. . . Charles was laughing so I think he did it considering I don’t know who else would. . . But also I’m not okay for another reason.” Sherri took a deep breath, “I’m sorry I flipped out on you. I was just really hurt and I didn’t want to stop being around you, but I guess I just bit my nose to spite my face by pushing you away.” At the sight of the flowers, Sherri’s eyes watered again-- but they were thankfully happy tears this time. The ginger hugged the flowers close to her chest before lifting her head back up to give Cecily a kiss. “I know we’re not supposed to even really hangout, but. . . I just wanted to do that before we have to be apart. I really like you and I want you to know I don’t hate you. . .”

“Its really weird. Your family kind of took over this town, its like pod people or something. Invasion of the Ryersons!” Burgundy shrugged her shoulders. “I mean I could’ve like punched you or something, that would have been way meaner. Fuck yeah, I’m definitely Chloe!” Burgundy sighed. “I’m not trying to break up their marriage dude, calm down. I just—its nice seeing two people who love each other, mom and dad are like the exact opposite of them.” she muttered. “And I’m barely a kid dude, calm down. I’m your friend because I like you! I like your whole family too though.” 

“It’s my uncle’s fault. He’s the one who decided to bust out four kids and then they all decided to marry people and have 4 billion seed. Mom R just had two kids and one wife like a normal person.” They weren’t exactly the nuclear family either, but their family was a lot smaller than most of his aunts and uncles’. “Yeah, I take it back You’re definitely Chloe because you’re an asshole like her.” he joked dryly as he continued to rub the sore spot. “Exactly-- they love each other and not you so don’t be coming onto my moms when they’re alone or anything. If you try to become my step mom I will actually burn myself alive.” Terrence squinted, “. . . Okay, fine. Come for dinner next week. It’s only because I know your parents kind of suck though and Mom G always says our door is open. If you flirt with them though then I’m going to screech like the fucking Mothman.”

“Who is gonna arrest you man? Don’t we have like a cop in the family or something? It’ll be chill. Just let me drank my drank.” she replied grasping for the drink again. “Yeah of course, its my favorite.” Justice rolled her eyes at the question. “Of course I have Tinder, how else am I supposed to meet up with cool people for hookups?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “Uh—not gonna happen, you can’t have my phone.” 

“Aunt Sam can only do so much, Justice.” his eyebrows furrow as he moved his hand with the glass farther from her reach, “You have good taste, but drink a Caprisun instead. If Gill saw you drinking he’d have a heart attack. You don’t want to do that to him.” Gill had become less of a worry wart over the years, but he’d still freak out over the underage drinking. “Hookup??? Justice, the only thing you’re ‘hooking up’ with is the LORD this weekend when I take you to Temple!” Brody wasn’t religious, but if it would keep Justice’s naked body off the internet then he’d try anything, “Give me your phone or else I’ll have it shut off. It’s on my phone bill. Remember?”

“Its not fair! I wish they’d just but out, my dad and brother both, they don’t understand anything and they just talk all this shit. They act like people can’t change.” Library said with a sigh. “Who cares if its beyond professional, I love spending time with you. I’m not gonna not spend time with someone I love because someone might think its not proper.” Library gripped the others hand, giving it a squeeze. “I forgave you a long time ago Sabina, there’s nothing to apologize about.” 

“I mean, I get it. If someone did that to Aurora I’d be just as protective and angry towards whoever hurt her. . .” Maybe that was a bad example considering she left Jess, but she ignored that for now. “I love you too.” she smiled slightly, although she wasn’t sure if the way she meant it was different than Library’s. Sure they were spending more time together, but Library could have been over her romantically. “I don’t know, I just don’t want to like. . . swing back in your life and fuck it up. You made a new life for yourself while I was gone and it’s not fair if my presence shifts it. Like I’m straining your relationship with your family and now I might make you look unprofessional. . .” Sabina frowned, “I don’t feel like I’ve done enough to earn your forgiveness.”

“I want to make it work too, no matter what my parents say about it. If they can’t love me because I care about you then—I guess that’s how its meant to be.” Reyna nodded her head in agreement. “Oh I don’t think I could have made it here without you. You’ve been my rock through this whole thing because you helped me realize how normal I am, that there’s nothing wrong with me.” she said, arms wrapping around the other affectionately. Reyna looked to the sound of the boys voices, almost sure she knew them. She followed Reyna and her eyes fell on the two figures before letting out a small giggle at the sight of them. “Oh my god. You actually came?” she said looking between the two of them. “No no no, no waterboarding Carmen. We were swimming.” She turned to Quinn, motioning to the two boys. “These are my friends Carmen and Sam. Carmen and Sam, this is my uh-my girlfriend Quinn.” she said softly. “I hope its okay to call you that.” 

Sam couldn’t hide the huge smile that adorned his face as he saw the two girls, saw how seemingly happy Reyna had been with Quinn. She was one of his best friends and seeing her so happy and not down mad him ecstatic. “Well its nice to meet you Quinn.” he said, extending his hand to the other. “We came here to bust Reyna out, we’ve got room for you too if you wanna come.” 

Quinn was still rather confused until Reyna expressed that she knew them. Her expression softened and she immediately reached for Reyna’s hand to give her a reassuring squeeze, “That’s more than okay.” Quinn turned back to the two and gave them a thankful smile, “Carmen. Sam. It’s nice to meet you guys too. . . Where are we going to go afterwards though? Uh. . . Reyna and I can’t exactly go home. . .” Although she wanted her parents to accept her, it wasn’t going to be easy or soon. 

“Okay, we got the getaway truck and I have snacks. If anyone catches us then I’m gunna throw my body in the line of fire to save you guys.” Carmen was under the impression conversion camp was a lot like boot camp and there were guns and barbed wire everywhere. “I don’t think my racecar bed I had set up for Reyna will hold you both, but I’ll buy a blow up mattress for the attic!” 

Josie took another long swig from the bottle, her third of the night, before slamming it down onto the table. “She doesn’t think anyone is really. I always told her I didn’t know.” she replied with more than a hint of bitterness in her voice. “I figured you would have figured it out by now but I really don’t think you wanted to. I wouldn’t want a kid with someone like me either.” 

Brody sighed, grabbing the bottle from her (like mother like daughter), “That’s enough, Josie. You’re wasted. If Jess or the kids see you like this you’re going to upset them.” He felt more and more like an asshole as she went on, “It wasn’t you. I was seventeen, Jos, I didn’t want to think I had that kind of responsibility at that age. . . especially after my kind-of-girlfriend just went to prison.”

Justice frowned as the drink was jerked from her hand, eyes narrowing at the other. “Is that really any of your business?” she asked grabbing for the drink. She’d been raised by Jess and Brody from a young age so she’d always been raised to listen to them, as of late though she’d found herself acting out. “If I wanna post nice pictures of my ass, I’m gonna post nice pictures of my ass Brody. You can’t stop me. God, if that bothers you, I bet you’d hate to see my Tinder.” 

“Yes!! Yes it is my business because you’re in my house drinking my wine and I could get arrested for letting your underage self drink!!!” he replied, taking a whiff of the glass, “Aw come on you opened the piedmont??” Brody felt like he was losing control on his life, mostly with his children and family. “You have a TINDER???” he squeaked out, a hand covering his mouth. He felt the sudden urge to just finish the rest of the wine she had poured. “No niece of mine is showing her ass online. Give me your phone now.”

“Hey, that’s your loss. Though it would kinda be a problem finding someone you weren’t related to so maybe it actually would be better to just hold off on that. I’m totally super nice to you though, don’t act like I’m not!” Burgundy reached out pinching the other roughly. “All jokes aside I will not be relegated to shrubbery Terry! You hear me!?” she said finally releasing him. “Hey that’s not fair! You can’t ban me from coming over, that’s totally not cool and homophobic. So what I have a little crush on both your moms, who is that really hurting?” 

Terrence cringed, “Yeah, I really need to get out of Dover when I go to college or else I’m never going to find someone I’m not related to, to get married.” He yelped when her fingers pinched his skin, “You call that nice????? Ow jeeze fine, fine! You’re be Chloe and not foliage!! Are you happy??” Terrence rubbed the place she was holding onto him, trying not to cry. He got his sensitive skin from Gemma. “That’s no homophobic, that’s I-don’t-want-you-creepily-coming-onto-my-moms-ophobic. Um you’re hurting me?? My parents’ marriage?? Yourself because you’re a KID. Are you even really my friend or are you just chilling with me for my mom??”

“Because you were mad at them and didn’t even want me to like mention their name?” Moss replied with a shrug. “I mean they were being nice but like—they’re always nice so that doesn’t really count.” Moss climbed to her feet as the other grabbed her, rolling her eyes. “Why would I be making that up? What the hell? What do you take me for?!” 

“Um but BEFORE I was pissed you could have told me! I’ve been being lame and kissless this whole time when I could’ve been ballin’ and kissing!” she said, dragging Moss in the hallway to get read to go on, “I don’t know? To get me to make up with them quicker? To give me a boost of confidence? Anyway, we’re about to go on.” Sherri gave Moss a tight hug for good luck (and just for being a good friend), “You’re my best friend. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thanks, Moss.” The applause for the group before them erupted, cueing Sherri to finally put her shoes on. She felt a weird and hard texture in the toes, but before she could untie the pointes from her feet to see what the issue was, the lights came up and she was being motioned by their teacher to go on. The routine started out decent, but once Sherri got into releve she could feel the glass in her shoes dig into her skin. 

Their group was the last to go, which was kind of a blessing considering Sherri wanted to just book out of there as fast as possible. She felt humiliated for looking so stupid up there and was angry at herself for leaving her shoes around for someone to slip the glass in there. Cautiously taking little steps in pain as she snuck outside, she ran into Cecily as she opened the door. “Hey.” she greeted, quickly drying her eyes, “Uh. . . Thanks for coming. After how bad it went out there I kind of wish you didn’t though.”

( @poisonedpeaches )

“Its called a thirst trap Instagram, Uncle Brody. I post that stuff then people view my page and I get sponsored. So I make money and get to help out mom, what’s wrong with that exactly?” Justice asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’m of age, you realize that right? Or do you just not think I should be allowed to show myself off?” she asked, taking a long sip from her glass of wine. “That’s misogynistic.” 

"I know what a thirst trap is, Justice!!” Brody said, snatching the glass from her hand, “You’re definitely not of age to drink yet though.” The pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy sigh. He always looked after her life one of his own kids-- but now the reality of her actually being his child made the dynamic a little different. He didn’t have the heart to say anything yet. “Justice, I swear to God you’re going to give me ulcers.” he huffed, “It’s not misogynistic. I don’t like my niece being viewed as some object on social media. . . Your mom knows if she needs money she could just ask us. You don’t have to do this kind of stuff.”

( @poisonedpeaches )

Josie took another sip from the bottle, before looking over at her brother in law drunkenly. “Brodmeister, how’s it goin’ buddy?” she said looking over to him, bottle sloshing in her hand. “How ya been? Life good?” she asked, as if she hadn’t just seen him hours earlier when she was sober. “I sure hope so. You got your husband and kids and you’re all happy and shit. I wish me and my girls had that. The twins dad is dead and Justice doesn’t even know you’re her dad.” As soon as she’d said it Josie’s hand went to her mouth, her eyes going wide. “Ignore that last part. I didn’t meant that.” 

Brody had one of the most grueling shifts in awhile. He barley got his two feet in the door when he could smell the bitterness from the open wine bottle. “Hey, Jos. . .?” he phrased more as a question as his voice raised in pitch. He wasn’t exactly sure what she was doing, but it didn’t look or sound good (or sober, quite frankly). As she started to go off about his happy home life, he fell silent with guilt. That was until the last part blurted from her mouth. Sure he had to be an idiot not to have thought he was the dad, but Brody had been trying to ignore the facts. It was the easiest coping mechanism for him for anything. “I have been home. . . for all of two minutes. . ." he started as he put his coat on the hook, “. . . Who does she think is her father?”

“Of course I can, I like you so much Quinn. You have no idea. So there may be some curveballs but I’ll take whatever comes my way if it means I get to be with you.” she replied, fingertips slowly running over the others cheeks. “Definitely the most important.” she grinned back at the other.  “That’s exactly how I feel. I feel all that stuff about you. I’ve never cared about anyone else the way I care about you and I doubt God would allow that if it wasn’t okay.” Reyna kissed the other back happily, blissfully unaware of what was going on around them until Quinn spoke up. She peered around the other her eyes wide. “I…maybe its a bear or something?” 

"I don’t know what we’ll do about our parents if we ever get out of here, but I want to make this work. . . I want to hold your hand and kiss you without feeling different than every other couple on the street doing it.” she smiled as the other’s hand brushed against her skin. Quinn gave Reyna another soft kiss, “This whole situation of being here really sucks, but. . . I think he put us here together to get through it because let’s be honest, I’d probably be hating myself a lot more if it weren’t for you. You make me feel normal, Reyna. Liking you feels right.” She shook her head as she grew more aware of the sounds coming closer, “No, no. I hear voices. . . I hear. . . Boy voices? Two?” She was hoping it was two campers like them sneaking off to get away from the authority of camp, but she quickly crawled out of the water just in case it were counselors. Getting on her two feet, she came face to face with Carmen and Sam. Quinn looked very confused by the tall male and the smaller boy clad in black. They obviously weren’t part of the camp. “Um. . . h-hello?” 

Carmen’s face lit up once he saw the girls. He had never been so relieved. “Reyna! We’re here to save you!!” Carmen whispered excitedly before looking between Quinn and his babysitter with confusion, “Why are you all wet?. . . Oh God, were they waterboarding the gay out of you guys???”