where does your love lie?

for: @eliaskoenig​ location: the beach, near the street

“Hey,” Rami tossed the volleyball at Elias as he passed by, “Where’ve you been?” The words were lighthearted as he jogged up to fetch the ball, joining his teammate by his side. Over the beach the sun was beginning to set, and he had his bag of beach essentials draped over one shoulder, gesturing towards the street and sidewalks that lead them back to the hotel. “I feel like I haven’t seen you at all,” he noted, glancing over at the blonde with a wry, twisted expression, followed by a laugh. “Maybe you’ve been busy. You know the boys and I missed you at our last pick-up game.”

“i do happen to be a pinterest extraordinaire,” lane countered with a devilish grin, “though i don’t feel strong enough in my cooking abilities to go without at least some guidance from a blogger on the internet that has a little too much time on their hands.” elias made a great point, though — it didn’t matter what the food looked like, so long as it was good. “i find that the best foods i’ve ever had were the ones with the least plating attention. the uglier, the better.”

        avery was the type of person that never really wanted to go home, as it meant sitting alone and doing nothing until he fell asleep so suggesting that the two of them go out for a bite to eat and maybe a couple of drinks didn’t seem like the worst idea in the world. “hey, seems like you’re reading my mind right about now anyways. how about you go shower and i’ll meet you at wherever you want to eat? no offense, you just… have been sweating.”

Rami paused, catching the seriousness that set in light coloured eyes— and he felt a flush of shame: he had gotten too far ahead of himself, shown too many cards. It was alright to tease, to joke and to flirt even, but blatant interest was something that was terrifying, perhaps to the both of them. It didn’t have to mean anything, whatever it was they got up to, and he paired Elias’ laugh with his own. “Gentlemen prefer blondes, but also, you’re not so hard to read. Don’t ask me shit about the new defence guys, I’d come up dry.” He leaned back against some of the equipment before settling down, perching on the edge of a bench to tilt his head up and give the other male a wry smile. It was like shifting a gear, to settle back into a more casual, manageable banter. “Of course. I’m the first born though— I didn’t get enough growing up, so when someone says something nice about me now, I don’t know how to act.”

“Who was it?” Astoria could be a brat and she had a vindictive streak against those who ruined her besties outfit at a party. She had enough power and access that she wasn’t a good enemy to make. Quite often, she punished just because she was upset. “It’s because you’re a good person.” A grin crosses her lips. “I can always pay to get a closet expansion done. We should definitely go on a shopping spree.” She sips her coffee, legs folded underneath her on their couch and she’s excited about the idea.

“Nice.” They say oversleeping could be a mark of depression, it seemed the sun and life drove him to the day. Being able to sleep was a gift and being able to get out of bed was another. “That sounds like a great sleeping schedule honestly.” Being aware at five am while the world slept could be lonely. She doesn’t want to sound like a dick but the question if she likes rye made her ache. “I’ve lived in Rye all my life. I’ve become quite discharmed by it, but the only way out is through school.”

        it was the little conversations like these, the typical waffle versus pancake debate was enough to keep him entertained for at least half an hour and the fact elias was keeping it going with him made t all the more entertaining. he grinned once the other man grabbed ahold onto the fry as quinn also tossed one back into his mouth in order to quench his hunger. “i don’t think i could ever live like that.. okay, new debate: what’s your favorite type of fry? like waffle fries, steak fries, etcetera?”

        avery always had a way about the way he had conversations with others that it became playful, never too serious as he hated serious conversations - they felt too adult and mature, which were quite literally the last words to ever describe the man. “i have nothing planned for myself, or you, unless you wanted to go get a drink. or something to eat. aren’t you supposed to stay energized or whatnot?” he teased.

He was good at noticing things— he was the oldest brother in a large family, and he had been tasked with helping to raise his trail of siblings, to dote on them when they needed and to comfort them when he failed. Such was a mentality that he had brought to the team, and further, to his relationships at Rye. Rami didn’t like to fail those who were important to him, so he made them important, picking out their favourite things and committing them to his memory. “You like sweet things,” he began, and his dark eyes trailed down the dancer’s body as the sweater tugged off to reveal muscular arms and a lean physique. He swallowed and cut his gaze back up to Elias’ bright eyes, continuing. “Before every game you have a rice krispie square, and you’ve always got sour patch kids in your bag.” He hummed, considering further. “You like sunrises and coffee, and drinks that taste like a tropical vacation just threw up in them.” Rami paused, “How am I doing so far?” He reached from he hem of his own sweater, tugging it over his head to set it aside as well. It was warm enough indoors, and his chin lifted to hide the grin that tugged wide. “I was going to bring up your mile time, but,” he bit into his cheek to stop the amused expression from stretching too far, “I don’t think I’ve got any tips on improving what’s already perfect. Sounds like you’re just fishing for compliments now, König.”

it was a fairly normal time to grow hungry, and the time of day coupled with her physical exertion left the blonde quite starved. she’d have to move quickly through the supermarket — or maybe she’d get lucky and they’d have one of those “meal in a bag” situations that she could pick up. “i would be happy to have some company. i’m not quite a chef either, though i’m a frequent pinterest recipe connoisseur,” lane admitted sheepishly. “i could never let you go to bed hungry — what would the people think me, cruel?”

“If I have to remind you, it doesn’t feel as special you know.” Rami tucked his hands behind him, keeping up pace so that he only walked a few feet behind Elias. “I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything that you like.” As the door closed behind them and the click of it echoed in the empty gym, he felt as though they were sealed inside: tucked into a corner of privacy, in a moment that was just their own. “There’s no humbling you, is there?” Dark eyes stayed fixed upon light ones, on the bright smile that curved on features cast golden. Elias was beautiful, he was bold and vibrant and unapologetic— it made something in his own chest twinge, he wanted that for himself as well. In its stead, he chose to admire, shaking his head lightly before closing his fingers around the handle of the locker room door. “All mine, hey?” Rami leaned against the door for a moment, pausing to draw the moment out. “Is there anything in specific that you think you need to work on?”

         quinn shrugged as the conversation continued about the overall opinion on the food their school was serving them. not that it was… terrible, but he could have made better fries himself at home in no time. “i agree, i’m definitely on the waffle side of the pancakes vs. waffles debate which is now most definitely making me want some now.” he chuckled, offering one of the better fries over to the man next to him. “i think this should be your last one ever if that’s how you feel.”

“let me know if it’s ever needed” she nods, pretending to be all seriousness and business for a long second, and then she can’t hold back her smile anymore and it surfaces with a chuckle. her hand throws the flask into the air and catches it right back (with a bit of a stumble)– some circus clown she’d make. and then he stares, and she honestly finds it amusing at first, a brighter smile tugging at the corner of her lip until the words leave his own lips and it’s her turn to stare and gasp: “you mean you didn’t see it?” she exclaims, “you almost stepped on it!” hands gesture to the grass below them as if that could show him anything. the frog is long gone and the fact, the reminder, makes the girl give a little sigh. “does one really need an explanation to chase a frog?”

      “Bless your heart.” stifling a yawn, she grabs one of their larger mugs and graciously pours herself a cup. elias was one of the few she could count on to always have coffee ready for her in the morning, it seemed her conquest of last night had slipped out before dawn had even broken. “Bastard.” she swears, angry that someone had spoiled elias’s night and his shirt. she had her sleeping mask pulled to rest on top of her head with her fuzzy slippers on and a small slip nightgown. “Did you give them hell for spilling on you? I can buy you a better shirt, there’s some new designers out this month.” there was little she wouldn’t do for him.

Her lips quip into a smile, that was a positive way to view the world. she was grateful in some ways, trying to find the light in the dark, for her insomnia. it was her normal and it was as it was. she knew she was smarter than average, than most, it was how she got her scholarship after all and that could be contributed to all the hours she studied. sleep wasn’t within her grasp so instead she turned to the books to get through the lonely dark night. “Are you the early to bed, early to rise type?” she asks in curiosity. A shake of her head, six years. “Wow. That’s a long time, do you like it here?” Each day she reminds herself of life beyond Rye, that she merely needs to survive and graduate and she can have it better. Six years feels like a lump in her throat.

“After all this time,” Rami said, feigning disappointment— “You don’t know me well enough to know I love going out in the morning, rain or shine. Breaks my heart, Elias.” He reached for the door, yanking it open for the blonder of the two of them to waltz in first. It was nice as well, to be out so early— before the gym got busy and the campus creaked into motion, like an old machine slowly oiling its parts and beginning to churn. The calm before the storm, where the ever present gaze of the student body was momentarily shut, allowing him a moment of privacy. “We’ve got that game against Easton coming up, how’re you feeling?” The games against the Connecticut-based university felt like a formality at best, years ago they had been excellent— now, and Rami liked to attribute some of this to his own guidance, Rye could run them down to a point of no return well before halftime. Still, he wasn’t immune to teasing. “If you’re nervous, I’m sure I could give you some pointers, you know.”

she found other ways to stay active, though she was not the true “sporty” type. a dancer by trade, a pilates enthusiast by choice, and a walk challenge extraordinaire when it meant bragging rights against one of her closest friends. she was a frequent visitor in the kitchen now that she was living on her own, but her parents had hardly ever allowed her in the kitchen previously. no, they would bellow — we have chefs for this sort of thing, just relax. as expected, her first year at rye was almost entirely dependent on microwaved ramen and scrambling through recipes on pinterest in the latest hours of the evening. she had made some progress, and even enjoyed cooking — but it was still clearly a work in progress. “you and me both. and now i’ve got a huge hankering for mexican food,” she admitted with a sheepish grin. “maybe i’ll run to the supermarket — make my own flautas rather than becoming a frequent flyer at the closest taco bell.”