Pretty Fast

"Is it just me that feels like our generation got ripped off? At least when it comes to the holidays?" Maeve asked as she browsed the department store absentmindedly. "I mean, people used to fight tooth and nail just to get their hands on a discounted tv. Now we're lucky if there's even a ten percent sale anywhere."

"I mean you can always start a fight wherever you are," Amory suggested as he took off the hat he had been trying on. He was already pretty much done with his holiday shopping but there was time to kill and a few things he had wanted to get for himself. "But I mean yeah, that's the never ending stench of capitalism for you, so best you get is something new and immediate buyer's regret," he joked and pointed at the clearance section. "I looked there earlier and they tried to make a $70 item seem like it was a sale."

"Your brother's got himself a confidence guru?" Monroe asked JJ with a raise of her eyebrow. "Now, you know I've heard of some shit in my day." She grew up the daughter of two pretty prolific actors so she'd encountered plenty a bizarre professions. "But that's the first time I've ever heard confidence guru." She said, teasingly. "Your family is pretty incredible." Monroe nodded, as she'd always been in awe when she found herself in their company. There were each so wildly different than the other but yet they fit together perfectly. "Yeah, by my parents." Monroe confirmed, as they had met already but nothing to the scope of a family dinner. "And I'll happily help you remember who's who. Actually, I think we'd be reminding each other." Monroe twisted her lips at the question he'd posed. "You're the first guy I've ever brought home with me so I'm a bit nervous about all of it. I know everyone's going to love you though, that's not a doubt in my mind."

"That's what I like to call Vic, yeah. Rob too if you think about it. Or maybe that's just friendship but they seem to have more of an effect on him than anyone else at the moment." Which he wasn't mad about. He knew someday he would have to let Amory figure out shit on his own. Just like JJ was doing now with Monroe. "Well you're the first person to bring me home to their parents so," he let out a laugh, feeling a little embarrassed about this but it wasn't as if it was a secret that JJ hadn't been a relationship guy for most of his life. "So we'll be nervous together but I'm excited, I want to meet them all." He wasn't someone to shy away from a challenge, especially now. He had been dumb in the past but he liked to believe he had grown enough to know that what he had with Monroe was something really special. Something worth growing up for and being present in. Well that and Flynn had told him that if he fucked it up he'd regret it for the rest of his life. "So what's the vibe for the family party? Fancy? Chic sweaters? PJs?"

Monroe's lips formed a pout that very much matched her boyfriend's as he spoke of the last event he'd missed. "I can only imagine the disarray Rosewood found itself in without you there." She lightly teased, reaching over to run her fingers through the curls at the front of his face. "We love to hear that. I mean, as much as I adore his couldn't be bothered with any of this attitude, it's nice that he's putting himself out there just a tad bit more." Monroe had come to have a really great appreciation for JJ's younger brother, as he called it as he saw it and didn't really accept BS. Traits that she, herself had worked hard to acquire. JJ's lips on her hand brought her back from her thoughts, her eyes tracing over his features. Whilst they thrived in the flashiness of their lives, there was something to be said about these more quiet moments. When it was just him and her, not a word having to be said cause she knew how he felt and vice versa. But the silence came to an end with a question that she had to admit she'd been waiting for. "Funny you bring that up actually because your presence has been requested at Thanksgiving." Monroe nodded. "Which does come with it's own trials and tribulations as there's a shit ton of us to remember."

"Right? That's what I was telling him, especially as he gets his music out there. I want him to know that people fuck with his shit. But Vic's been a big help. She's like his confidence guru, it's kind of dope. Also help that he trusts Rob with his life so he's more willing to be open when he's with them. Love my fam," he told her, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes before laughing. JJ and Amory had always been a duo, practically attached at the hip, so for both of them to be finding their own paths meant a lot to him. Scared him but mostly made him excited. "Oh it has? By your parents?" JJ was more excited than nervous but the nerves were still very much there. "Well shit, then I'll get some flash cards. How do you feel about me being there?"

"I don't think you'll be dying of FOMO–" Monroe scoffed, enjoying her boyfriend's theatrics. A trait he'd definitely inherited from his father. "Actually, now that I think about it, I can't be too sure. Have you ever missed an event?" She asked him, ranking her mind to think if she could come up with an instance. "I can only imagine." She nodded as his father had made an empire from throwing the best events, one that her boyfriend was very much a part of and the holidays was all about parties. She knew this to be the busiest time of year for the Buellers. "What, you thought I'd have this on and not flaunt it at least once this evening?" She asked JJ with a shake of her head. "Come on, you know me better than that." Monroe teased, taking a hold of his free hand as he drove them away from that evenings festivities. "And we get the house to ourselves? I think this night is only getting better and better." She let him know, excited for this night would take them.

"Not that I can remember," he admitted. "Oh wait, Valentine's Day four years ago, I had the flu. Disaster. I was a baby about it the whole time," he told her with a pout before laughing. He honestly couldn't remember that version of himself as clearly. Everything since Monroe had felt clear and bright colored. "Yeah, exactly. And Amory told me he's trying to have a good time tonight so he won't be back for a while. He's in his social guy era," he joked, bringing Monroe's hand back to his lips as he drove. He was a bit surprised at how at ease he felt with skipping the party, how excited he was to spend time with his girlfriend. He felt like a new man and yet he felt so much himself, it was something he had never experienced before. "So, speaking of holidays, you uh, you think your family would be okay with me making an appearance this year? You already know my Dad loves you, shit even Axel loves you and she's met you like twice but I mean how could they not."

"It's actually one of my favorite and least favorite quirks of yours." Monroe teased, as she would like to think she'd made it very apparent that there wasn't much about JJ that she disliked. "That is what I call them and I don't think they'd mind the name all that much." Being that her boyfriend was fairly influential— she'd come to accept that he would always be the life of the party. People enjoyed being in his company and honestly, she liked knowing that he was so revered. "I think they'll be fine. Will you survive?" She said with a small laugh, the smile on her face only growing brighter as her boyfriend kissed at her fingers. "Who said I won't be showing it off?" Monroe asked, knowing he would definitely pick up what she was putting down.

"I don't know, I might die from FOMO later on but right now I'm just happy to be with you and honestly thinking I need to lay low before the holidays. Bueller's and the holidays are like...supercharged," he admitted. Thanksgiving to New Years felt like a marathon. From parties they were hired to plan, to gatherings of their own to Flynn's annual New Years party, it was truly his busiest season. And he kind of wanted to get all the time he could with Monroe before all of that took over. "Well now," he told her with a smile and put his car in reverse to back out of the parking spot and drive back onto the road. "Say less, babe. I'm pretty sure my house is empty right now. Amory said he was meeting Vic and Rob before this and my Dad still has a few days left on his trip with Axel. So unless he fucked it up somehow, I'm pretty sure they won't be surprising us with a early return."

"That was actually quite insane," Monroe told her boyfriend as she'd never known JJ to say no to a party. "some would say certifiable even." She teased, following his gaze over to this evenings venue before their eyes met once again. "You know, when you put it that way... you're really selling me on the whole ditching this thing... thing." Monroe twisted her lips as JJ's hand found hers. "You think your loyal legion of 365 party girls are gonna hate me for saying this... maybe we could totally not go."

"I know, I know, I'm very convincing." He let out a loud laugh and shook his head. "You're hilarious. Is that what you call them?" There had been a time where JJ soaked up all that attention but as soon as he had started seeing Monroe, none of it had seemed important or tempting anymore. "Yeah? You think they'll survive? Lyrica might kick my ass but I know she'll hold it down." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the tips of her fingers. "And you don't mind not getting to show off your new suit? I mean I'd hate to deprive the town of their greatest beauty." Still, as he said it, he was already sitting up and turning the car back on.

"Oh, does it? You know that comes with it's own set of challenges—" Axel began to let her boyfriend know before she realized that she was talking to the man who knew all about parties. He was the keeper of good times around these parts. Anything concerns she probably had, Flynn had probably already figured a solution for. "You might be barking up the wrong tree there, according to some of my sources– they might not even be together anymore." Axel said, before bring her finger up to her lips despite her job being to literal report these things. "I most definitely think you can pull it off." She laughed, before placing a quick kiss on his cheek. Axel hadn't needed to hear those three words as Flynn had very much showed just how much he loved her often but that didn't stop the giant grin that appeared on her features once he'd uttered them. He loved her. "I love you." She told him, with such ease as she knew that she loved him. "Okay, I've wanted to say that to you for the longest. I love you so much." Axel let him know, turning to the photographer to apologize for the moment they were having. Not that she was really all that apologetic. "He just told me he loves me, could you believe?" She said, teasingly before drapping her arms around his neck. "How's this for our next pose?"

"Well I think I'm ready to take on new challenges. Honestly, life has been too easy breezy," he joked. But really things felt smooth and he wasn't trying to create more chaos but he was always interested in leveling up. "They're definitely fucking though. Dating or not, I mean, come on, they're so publicly horny you have to admire it. I can get being absolutely enamored with a beautiful blonde babe." Flynn truly felt like he was in his own rom com, feeling like his face might break from how much he was smiling. He had laughed off the idea of a relationship for so long, so determined to not be some lovesick fool. Or worse, a heartbroken fool. But from the moment he and Axel had re-connected, he knew he would be anything if it meant getting to be next to her. It helped that she genuinely loved and cared for him in a way he wasn't used to. But he was coming to really appreciate it. Especially when he saw how excited she was to hear those words. He slid his hands along her waist to pull her closer as their picture was taken again. "This is perfect." He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. After a good amount of other photos, Flynn thanked the photographer and got his information so he could send him the photos immediately. But he told them he could print one of them out and told them to pick which one they wanted printed. "What do you think? The one where my eyes are closed is really sexy."

"Flynn," Axel whined, ducking her face into his chest for a moment. If there was one thing she'd never get use to from Flynn was just how unapologetically into her, he was. He always made her feel like she was one of his top priority, it was heartwarming. "I'd say that we're both quite lucky, actually." She told him, before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "They most definitely will be a mainstay on fridges." Axel nodded, not seeing how their joint beauty would be replaced by a bunch of magnets. "I don't see why not? I have just the dress for a New Year's shoot." She began to let her boyfriend know, as they found themselves outside of the festivities. The music now a soft hum in the background as they joined those waiting for pictures. "Okay, you lost me. What's dapping up the 10's?" Axel asked Flynn, as she didn't believe she'd ever done such a thing. As they found themselves in front of the camera, Axel ran her fingers through her hair to lay it exactly where it needed to. Flynn's arms wrapped around the front of her, as they found themselves in the all too familiar prom pose. "Watch these be the exact one we want." She smiled, before striking a pose for the picture.

"Of course you do. Always prepared. I'm thinking, New Years Eve, has to be a rooftop party. Need to get a top non-Rosewood performer to really knock everyone's socks on. So naturally, I've been DM'ng Barry Keoghan so he can connect me with Sabrina," he joked, though one too many tequilas last week with Collin and the messages had actually gone through. "I think I can pull it off." He laughed at her confusion, glad that she seemed to be less chronically online than he was, even in her line of work. "There's like this girl who goes around greeting all the people she seems a 10 at events. Like festivals and shit like that. I'll show you the videos later. And you know, you're probably right, but I still love options." He smiled big at the camera, unable to help himself as he held her. He thought of his high school self for a moment, what it would have meant back then if he and Axel had actually gone to prom together. It made him laugh to himself. Rosewood Academy really did take itself seriously with all the lore and gossip. But he was glad that they were standing here now and not when he was some knucklehead high school student. "I love you," he whispered as he leaned his head against hers. And though that hadn't been how he planned on finally telling her, it felt more perfect than any plan. The photograph paused to let them switch their pose and he stood to face her with a grin. "You can pick the pose this time. Let's hear it, creative director."

"I suspected as such," Axel let her boyfriend know, his smile only making hers that much brighter. The mere sight of him was enough to turn her days around, as of lately and today was no different. "Probably something about how you're infinitely cooler than basically everyone here, I assume." She told him, cupping his face in her hands for a moment before he leaned into kiss her. "You're already thinking ahead to the holidays?" Axel asked him, laughing lightly. "Truly a man after my heart. You think our friends and family can handle the gorgeousness of a Christmas card with us, two?" She asked Flynn, her hand finding his and intertwining their fingers as she led the way towards said steps. "I mean, look at us." She pointed between the two of them. It went without saying, they were 10's apart and brought together... they scored far too high for most to catch up.

"I'm always thinking ahead. But mostly I just want to remind everyone how fucking lucky I am. Every single year." Flynn was far past his little existential crisis about being corny or in too deep. He liked who he was becoming, which was not something he could always say about himself. Really not until recently. But Axel made him feel on top of the world. Especially when she was kissing him and staying close to him like this. "I think they can handle it. I better see it on everyone's fridge. Or we could do multiple holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Years too. A whole photoshoot." He followed after her, letting his eyes move over her for a moment as he did. "Oh I'm looking. We would both be in those videos where they dap up the 10s at the party." As the group in front of them moved away from the camera, Flynn gently led them into the frame and tipped the photographer with 100 bucks to ensure that he'd take good photos of them and wouldn't rush them along. "Alright, first pose," he told her and stood behind her like it was a prom picture. "Just for shits and giggles."

"Excuse me, gentlemen." Axel interrupted a conversation her boyfriend was currently having. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything too important here, but there's a matter that I just need to steal Flynn away for a second to resolve." She let her boyfriend know, with a nod of her head as she took a hold of his hand to lead him away from his conversation. Once tucked away from the masses, the brunette pulled him down for a kiss. "I just needed that. And before you say anything, blame how great that suit looks on you, okay." ( @flynn-bueller )

"I mean you don't hear me complaining. I can't even remember what I was talking to those guys about." His smile was goofy as he looked at her and the entire room melted away behind her. "Kind of feels like I've been stuck in this loop of mid parties though," he admitted with a soft laugh before leaning forward to press his lips to her forehead. "We gotta get a picture in front of the step and repeat before we go though. I may be a hater but I love a photo op. Especially with you. We could make it our Christmas card," he told her with a wink.

"Already locked in, man," Penn cocked his chin toward a table where some people they knew were congregating. Such was the benefit of being everyone's friend, they never really had to worry about that kind of thing. "Yeah, yeah, we get it, arch that back king," he teasingly pinched at the small of Flynn's back as they took off toward the bar. "For real. Forgot how good it is not to have to check on shit every three seconds. Except my reflection, obviously gotta stay fly under all circumstances," he pretended to check his reflection in his shot glass before he downed the drink with a satisfied hiss. "Come on, one more for good luck."

"Obviously. But you don't have to worry about that today, my friend. Your hair? It's looking great first of all and it's not always easy to pull off the shirtless blazer look. But you, you are making it work. You're like beach Ken but cooler." He knocked his first one back before motioning for another. "I don't think I've seen this place look this good before. He might have a real future in this. Not as good as us of course but tell me would you have gone mermaid? What would you do for a pride party? I think I'd definitely start with like an interactive art show type thing. A little education and culture before the all out party."

"Now I wish I would have seen the version with the flippers." Axel let him know, with a playful pout before he went about revealing the outfit he'd had underneath the wetsuit. "Woah, that reveal was seamless. Have you been catching up on your Drag Race lately?" She asked, as she stepped closer to him to drape her arms around his neck. "Never did I say that nor would I imply that as you happen to look hot in whatever you're in or... not in." Axel told him, biting down on her lower lip for a moment as her mind wandered. His lips soon found hers, Axel was beyond happy. "I certainly did try. This is the event to actually try, I don't want the girl who looked terrible at a ball." She said, as she couldn't think of a worse crime in that very moment and time. "If I recall correctly, you and I made plans to end the night together so... I'd say, I intend on having quite a fun time. And I hope the same rings true for you."

"I'll put them on for you later, how about that? I mean...what can I say? I've been working on my entrances. Practice is an art, you know? I am a man of my craft, babe." He happily leaned into her touch, enjoying the way she looked at him and enjoying how it made him feel when she did. "I don't think you'd ever be the girl who looks terrible at a ball. Like ever. And yes, we did. It very much rings true for me. Like always. My only other responsibility tonight is to make sure that I get a good picture with all of the drags queens. They love me." He leaned in to kiss her again as the bartender brought them their drinks. He made sure to leave the bartender a tip before grabbing their drinks. "Cheers to finally having a night where neither of us have to run off to catch a flight tomorrow."

"What are you wearing?" Axel asked her boyfriend as she caught sight of him, laughter slowly escaping her. He just looked utterly ridiculous. "A snorkle and goggles? You can not be serious." She shook her head as she very much knew that Flynn was in fact not at all serious. "Let's." She told him with a nod of her head. "I think we are more than deserving of shots and then some." She told him, holding out her hand for him to take so that he'd lead their way towards the bar.

"You know I almost wore the flippers too," he said and did a little twirl before unzipping the plastic jumpsuit he had worn over his actual outfit. "It's mermaid theme, I was assuming there would be splashing water somewhere. Are you saying I don't look hot in the snorkle?" He took her hand and brought it to his lips for a moment. "You look stunning, babe." He took her hand and walked them through the crowd to the bar wit ease, greeting people along the way. As they waited for their shots, he popped a few bubbles in the air before leaning in to kiss her. "How drunk are you looking to get tonight because I heard the shots are packing a punch."

"Of course you have a fucking snorkel," Penn clapped Flynn on the shoulder when he saw him. "Any other insider information you wanna share with the class?" For the sake of the vibes he wasn't going to joke about man eating piranhas or anything, but given his luck he was definitely keeping an eye out. "Honestly, thought that was you at first glance–" he gestured over to the stage where a burlesque performer was dangling from the ceiling like a bedazzled worm on a hook. "Smart move, subverting expectations and walking right through the front door."

"I took an educated guess, my friend. Also it totally matched, I couldn't pass it up." Flynn's smile widened easily the moment he saw Penn and he put his goggles on top of Penn's head so he could take a picture. "All I know is the drinks are strong and the queens are about to tear the house down. We need a good place to watch those from." Flynn followed Penn's line of sight and let out a laugh. "You know, I can see how that mistake can happen, that flexibility is very much me but I figured that as an ally the least I could do is keep the attention off myself," he joked. They got to the bar and Flynn happily grabbed them two shots, handing one to Penn. "Here's to enjoying the fuck out of someone else finally throwing a decent party."