𝙨𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 / 𝖇𝖔𝖎

ainsley: next time have them ship it or something so you can get your fix

ainsley: sorry i wasn't randomly in the caf at the same time as you

ainsley: want me to bring you ginger ale or something?

ferris: i'm sure i could get my parents to bring me some now that i think about it

ferris: i'll get some for you too just so i can prove you wrong

ferris: you're forgiven for now! but you're on thin fucking ice

ainsley: you've looked at too much bougie clam chowder to know that it wasn't something fancy.

ainsley: tell me a place that does it right because....i don't think it exists

ainsley: that's unfair

ainsley: i wasn't even there to witness this disastrous occasion.

ferris: i know and i regret it

ferris: there's this restaurant back home that does it perfectly actually

“can you imagine that? them telling their snooty friends about how you aren’t in school anymore and are pursuing skateboarding. i think mom’s head would explode at her next book club or whatever her friends get together for.”

“i could unfortunately. i’d be in huge trouble too. but, they wouldn’t let me get off that easily. i’d have to like...straight up run away to actually start my own life away from them without them intervening. maybe i’ll just have to do that one day. get up and get that fresh start i always wanted.”

ainsley: how did you not know??

ainsley: i am not responsible for how you feel now.

ainsley: WHO EVEN LIKES CLAM CHOWDER?!?!?!

ferris: i don't know

ferris: dropped on the head too many times as a baby??

ferris: wasn't raised by smart parents??

ferris: there could be a lot of contributing factors

ferris: i like clam chowder! come on. at least when it's done right, it's the best!!

ferris: note to self, never eat the clam chowder they serve at the campus cafeteria.

ferris: it really was a freshman mistake

Her expression shifted to something defensive, and she wondered if she was making him upset. It hadn’t of been her intention, but he looked frustrated– perhaps he’d been right when he’d said he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Syd gave the conversation one last try, “So, what do you see yourself doing in the future?”

it was impossible not to laugh at his tone, not that renata was one to try to hold back a chuckle, but she’d meant to be more subtle about it and had instead just laughed loudly in the middle of the library. anyday now she’d get permanently banned, and she’d probably be proud of it. “your face looks like you need to go do something fun, so, yeah, let’s go,” she nodded, closing her laptop easily. “drinks? bowling? i’ll even take coffee, if you’re buying, but it is the least fun option.”

“i’ll do you one better...” he started off, knowing just the little joint in town that could supply them with some entertainment. “you weren’t off about the drinks, but i think some karaoke is long overdue.” he chuckled back easily, hoping to garner a laugh, before collecting his things and throwing his backpack behind him. “getting drunk while singing to strangers sounds like the perfect night, doesn’t it?”

“I’m not saying you can’t, but everyone gets drunk…” His brows furrowing a little, Blake tapped his shot glass against the table. “Alright… It’s not that special, I’m afraid. Just regular cheap booze, but it does the trick.”

“yeah, yeah. that’s what i’ve been told.” and experienced on occasion now. ever since splatterhouse, the younger rockwell was certainly pounding drinks these days, finding it easier and easier to get his hands on. “all alcohol is still alcohol, right? s’long as you say it gets the job done, i’ll believe it.” he took his drink, swishing it back before giving a second thought about it. 

“What if I want to fight? What if I want to throw down? What about what I want?” Tuck joked, chuckling as he moved with the other in the direction of the liquor store. “Get drunk with me, maybe?”

“what about what you want?” he tried, staring at the other, hoping to at least confuse him in a sense. “okay, fine, you want to throw down? i’ll haul ass out of quicker than you’d get your first punch in. i’m no model, but i know i can’t afford to fuck up my face while i’m still in my prime.” with a curious glance, he eased up a bit. “of course i’ll get drunk with you. seems only fair.”

Her irises softened at the remark, a hint of melancholy in the corners of her eyes. Sera’s parents never really called, save for the occasional inquiry into her state of being—just to make sure she hasn’t made a complete fool of herself. “I wouldn’t know…” she replied, almost a whisper. “Your mom must be really sweet,” she added, with a smile this time. She lifted her shoulders and jutted her lip. “I don’t know. Depends on what you’re up to.”

ferris’ glance lifted to look at the other for a moment, before finally shoving his phone into his pocket. “i...i’m sorry. i didn’t mean it in like...a bad way for you.” he tried, getting a bit stumbly over his words. “my mom is definitely the sweeter parent, but really...it’s all just a guise. both parents want good things...they just only want it their way.” scratching at the top of his head before adding back, “i don’t know either. we could hit up the cafeteria or something. anything to get us out of this stuffy old building, you know?”

“Maybe the irony is the friends she made along the way,” he said simply. “Damn, you’re really mad about this, aren’t you? Jesus… What’d I even call you? I don’t remember. Whatever it was, I’m certain it wasn’t that deep.”

“fuck, i’m not drunk enough for any of this. and i’m not really that mad. just like to see how people react if it seems like they pissed me off. i’m glad it wasn’t deep though. let’s just forget about it, alright? we deserve to at least have a friendly conversation going into this. don’t need us to break out into a full fledged fight.”

“Not particularly, but I don’t know how drunk you are already. Just trying to look out for you,” he said with a shrug, pouring the shot and handing it over. “What are we taking a shot to? Graduating one day in the distant fucking future?”

“drunk? i...i think i can handle my liquor dude.” he tried back, his eyes narrowing onto the other before watching the sho being poured. “you know...you’re a good man...for spreading the wealth. it’s nice to know that we’re all here, suffering, together. we can toast to that—though, i’m not sure i’ll ever make it out of here alive, at least not with a diploma.”

Developpe. Ecarte. Change to efface. Plie. Tendu. First arabesque, she chanted in her head, while executing the moves with perfect grace. The party was still raging inside the frat house but she was bored out of her mind, growing sick of sweaty bodies slamming against each other to the beat of electronic dance music. So she made her way outside, armed with a stolen bottle of gin, and performed for the crescent moon.

And an unexpected guest. She dropped her arms to her sides, feet in first position, and gave her audience a sickly sweet smile. “Oh, hello. I didn’t see you there,” she said in a sing-song voice. “Enjoy the show?”

“it was...brilliant.” ferris had no idea what he had witnessed, especially since he was past the point of no return, partying at the frat with no end in sight. but as he took a moment for his breath of fresh air, the girl’s movements caught him off guard. “you...definitely would give any person inside dance a run for their money, easy. sometimes i forget that...like...dancing like that really exists, instead of just the endless bodies grinding against each other.”

“fucking pay someone to keep you in, and then reprimand you like you’re some child. it’s a big risk not considering going into it, which doesn’t even make sense why you’re here at all. if you want to do skateboarding, aren’t there better ways to be spending your time?” 

“there are loads of different ways i could be spending my time dude. why do you think i never actually make it to class. i’ve got too much to keep up with besides who invaded who in the 15th century, like that’s actually gonna be fucking useful to me. god, they’d do anything to make sure i at least get some god damn degree, so they don’t have to tell any of their friends that their son dropped out.”

“oh, um…thank you. it means a lot hearing you say that. i assure you though, it hasn’t been quite as picturesque as i make it out to be. this is probably going to sound a little harsh, but who’s happiness do you care about more? yours or theirs?”

“damn. i’m sorry. sometimes i forget that other people go through their own shit too. i can be so caught up in my own stuff that i forget to take a look around and make sure the people around me are okay too. and it’s not harsh. obviously i care about my happiness, which is why i’ve mastered doing things for myself. being here though...it...helps with the facade...i’ve got to ease them into my life.”