W I L D C A R D

     ‘ uh — earth to ari ? i’m pretty sure you’ve got me CONFUSED with another blonde on campus , because i’ve literally been drinking since i was fifteen. my tolerance has pretty much been IMPENETRABLE since my parents and i took a trip to bali the summer between my sophomore year and my junior year and all i did was order mai tai’s on the beach. ’

santino’s grin spread across his face, his eyes sparkling at the sight of all the plates they were going to smash. “nice,” he replied, passing the bat to ari as he picked up a stack of plates. he brought them to the back and began to make space for their antics. “should i put something on the ground or are we just like, fuck it?”

this had gone in the best way possible, and to be honest key was glad. he dropped his rugged demeanor, understanding where ari was coming from. a laugh in the form of an exhale left key’s lips, relieved that nothing had escalated. “yeah, i don’t think it’s been easy for anyone. it’s like everything y’hear on the news feels like it’s so close now, y’know? like anything could happen here.. i was in a bubble for so long.” he took himself out of his thoughts, stretching his hand out, “yeah, we cool.”

“Don’t call him that!” she hit him with a pillow. “I told you before we are just friends.” Catalina completely ignored his warning, but decided she should minimize the multiple tabs she had open on “solving a murder case’. “Yeah you’re right. Plus that means following you for a week everywhere and that sounds like my personal hell.”

“Maybe I should just shut the channel down. I mean, it’s not like I need the money. It was just nice having something that I worked for.”

“yeah you’ve told me –– but have you told him?” he asked the girl as he made himself comfortable, something that was pretty normal these days, whether it was in cats room or emilios.”

“I can always call Grayson to move it for me” she stuck out her tongue. 

“Thank you….unless you’re saying that to just butter me up to sleep with me.” she chuckled. “I wish there was some more information on that girl they found. That would be some good content.” she spoke absentminded, not thinking about how brash she sounded. “Maaaaaybe I should do a piece on  the president of Alpha Beta Alpha”

“ahhh yes, your boytoy ––– how is the giant? broken his heart yet?” ari asked as he laid in his spot on the bed. “please don’t go looking into that stuff cat, i don’t need to turn on the news next week and find that you were the third one killed.” the man said to her before shaking his head. “that is the worst idea you’ve had, i really don’t think i’m what the people want.”

“No one knows your here. I will end you.” she gave him apointed look before going back to her laptop.

“Just one of the challenges I did last week. Just some fluff content until I can find something as good as the 1% series.” she sighed. “I’m going to start losing followers if I can’t get my act together.”

then you’d have to move my body and i’ve seen you try to move a chair –– it wont work.”

“first off tinder is like…the exact opposite of love. secondly, not even in your pervy little dreams.” she rolled her eyes. She went and sat on her bed, going back to editing her latest video. It needed to be up by noon the next day. 

“Oh good, so I don’t have to worry about you trying to slither your way onto my bed again. And how many times have I said to CALL before you show up.”

“but you still swiped right.” he said with a chuckle as he pulled off his jacket and sat down on the edge of her bed.

zara: no to seafood, yes to bowling

zara: okay, i’ll keep that in mind

zara: i’ve got that

ari: alright then

“Tolerate and love are two very different things.” she sighed. But, she couldn’t just leave him out on the street. “Fine. Come in.” 

Catalina backed up letting him through before locking the door. “Did none of your groupies pick up or something?”

“according to tinder it was love babe.” he said with a playful smirk. he’d never let the woman live it down.

“Gods, do you have any idea what time it is? This better be good.” Catalina sighed as she opened up her door. “What are you even doing here?”

“oh shut up you love my company.” ari said as he rolled his eyes and looked at her. “i was at a party around the corner, drank too much and now i can’t drive home –– can i stay here?”

zara: that’s what i thought

zara: look we had a really good thing last year, and it got derailed. and i’m sorry about that, but i want to fix it

ari: well if you really want to fix it, you plan the date

ari: i dont like seafood

zara: i mean i can take it back if you don’t want to go

ari: no no

zara: i know that

zara: and i don’t want to lose you

zara: i care too much about you

zara: so

zara: we should go in a date

ari: legit?

ari: you want to go on a date with me?

zara: it’s not

zara: i don’t believe in new years resolutions

zara: however our conversation the other day got me thinking a lot

zara: and i haven’t been fair to you at all

ari: you can't help how you feel

ari: i don't want to push you into anything

zara: for being an asshole to you for the last year

ari: well it's in the past

ari: don't tell me this is some kind of new years resolution shit

ari: where you go and apologise to everyone you were a dick to