let me let you down

kat: who isn't

kat: oh right, my dad hahahahaha

kat: but, if they're fictional, they don't exist, right??

kat: i sorta get you i think

kat: oh, no. i'm the opposite

lani: omg? what's up with your dad i'll fight him

lani: that's right. fictional = fake. non-fictional = not fake. best way to remember that. the fs.

nira rolled her eyes, a fond smile on her lips, “maybe a little.” she lifted an eyebrow then, “i’ll still bet that you could beat her in a physical fight. dunk on her or whatever the kids say?” she shrugged. she understood why nalani had the job she did, she probably wouldn’t have passed up on the opportunity either, if she was being honest. but she knew the job could probably be brutal. though, hers could too. she nodded in agreement as the other woman continued, “that’s true. it’s all about that campaign.” at the mention of secrets, she swallowed. she told lani nearly everything, but there were just some things she wasn’t ready to touch. there was one thing she needed to talk to her about, though, “speaking of secrets. i have to tell you something… i did something stupid.” a sharp intake of breath, here goes nothing. 

“dunk on her?” lani laughed through her words so hard that she could barely be understood. “aw, you’re such a loser,” her words were full of adoration, no mocking in sight. she had very few people she could actually joke around with. people that she could make fun of and know they would love her the next second anyway. she could actually be herself with nira and not worry about judgment. well, not too much judgment at least. “you?” she gasped dramatically. “i’m sure you did not do something stupid but if we’re using this time to acknowledge your wrongdoings and forgetting about mine, that would be much appreciated.” nira didn’t even know the extent of lani’s ‘wrongdoings’ and she wanted to keep it that way. 

       “   YEAH,  YOU,   ”   SHE  TEASED.  ADMITTEDLY,  she  was  finding  things  a  lot  easier  now  that  her  feelings  were  out  in  the  open,  almost  as  if  a  weight  has  been  lifted  of  her  shoulders.  it  was  strange,  feeling  butterflies  whenever  aubree  was  around  and  knowing  she  was  aware  of  it  all   (   and  the  fact  that  she  wasn’t  feeling  those  same  butterflies  just  yet,   )   but  easier.   “   that  makes  two  of  us,  then.   ”   it  was  true.  marian  would  have  never  guessed  that  she’d  be  jealous  of  another  girl  falling  for  aubree  messer.  in  fact,  she  never  would  have  guessed  she’d  be  falling  for  aubree  messer,  of  all  people.  but  then  again,  she  always  fell  for  the  people  she  shouldn’t  be  falling  for,  so  at  this  point  there  was  no  reason  to  be  surprised.

“too bad i don’t know how to shut up, nor do i take orders from anyone.” even though both statements were true, her tone was playful and a bit sarcastic. she could get used to a bit of a dynamic change with the two of them. aubree wasn’t willing to admit to herself that she was frightened of any form of serious interpersonal relationship -- romantic or not -- so while her emotions agreed it was a good idea to let things happen, she would allow it. “well, i’ll do my best to not make you jealous from this moment on then. try not to give you reasons to feel anything negative towards me while i still can.”

kat: ikr

kat: are waves meant to be emotional?? like do surfers get really sad??

kat: same. i just i've always preferred one time things

kat: thats changing tho obvs

lani: i'm obsessed with you

lani: no, emotion waves. fictional waves made out of emotion. let yourself feel what you gotta, don't fight it. talk about it when you need to. it's the only way through anything, whether it's positive or negative

“  shut  the  fuck  up,  it’s  true.  working  on  movies  and  shit,  you  dumb  bitch,  that’s  cool.  ”   she  swats  aubree  on  the  arm,  almost  violently,  but  she  laughs  along  with  it,  softening  the  blow.   “  and  even  your  worst  life  is  better  than  those  saddos’,  so  keep  doing  that.  ”

“it is cool, you’re right, but i was more focused on getting my ass out of that hell hole of a school than i was in answering my agent’s phone calls. i should probably do that, huh?” granted, she was also distracted by grieving. she hadn’t felt right about working since her father’s passing, but luckily she had enough content saved in her phone from other bookings that it made it seem like she was still getting out there. “you’re right, and that also applies to you. don’t act like you’re boring like the rest of this sad town.”

nira: i'm not saying you started it, but please don't fight with her again

nira: almost anyone in ashcroft i will got to trial for you

nira: but not a donovan or nalani

aubree: okay, i won't. i wasn't planning on it.

aubree: aw, thank you. that's.. almost sweet

kat: i know. thank you.

kat: it'd be iconic

kat: she's my best friend. of course, i do.

kat: i mean, you can't be any worse than me, babe

lani: so humble.

lani: we're iconic?? so

lani: well, there you go. it'll be fine. just give yourself some time and ride that emotional wave.

nira chuckled, “i think you’re the only reason i have left to stick around most of the time. you and dante.” oliver sometimes, but he was sam’s friend first, obviously. and she worried about the kids (and sam), but that wasn’t necessarily her place now- it couldn’t be. she shook her head, amused, “she does have tall energy- i think she thinks she’s over six foot.” she took a long drink of her coffee, shrugging, “yeah, but it’s typical in politics i feel like- nothing can get out. they don’t want a secret child or a sex tape or an affair getting exposed.” she crossed her legs, “oh, nothing specific, but they have to have secrets, right? i’ve never met an honest politician.” she paused, “actually, people in general usually aren’t that honest, but that’s a philosophical conversation for another time.” 

“aw, that’s kinda gay, nira,” lani smirked, nudging her playfully. she didn’t really have too many friends either. most of them she had either slept with or didn’t have time for, something she’d also gladly admit out loud. kat was maybe the only person that lani still made a point of keeping around often enough. “which is taller than me, so,” she shrugged. her heart sank at the word affair, but she had to keep her cool. she told nira everything -- for the most part -- but she couldn’t tell her that. she was embarrassed and terrified that she’d look at her differently. she went all this time without giving it away, “yeah, i don’t think they’d want that getting out. would probably hinder her election pretty hardcore.” the thought that she was just another affair in the long list of politician’s scandals had her stomach in knots. “everyone has secrets, not just people in government.” she would know. 

kat: no you'd totally rule the world

kat: & i'd be the stylist at your side

kat: i don't know. movies are so different. they are all so lovey dovey.

kat: skepta v : that's not me

lani: omg you're so cute

lani: i'd love every second of that

lani: aw i'm sure you'll feel it eventually. i mean, you care about her right?

he took the phone from her hand, not even bothering to look at it, then tossed it on the desk. zeke was done for the day. “ THE facebook? ” he repeats after her, faking to be hurt by the accusation. “ i’m offended you’d think of me as that type of person, truly. ” his lack of knowledge was mostly reserved for instagram, really. facebook and twitter he could do well on, he simply wasn’t too into it. “ i thought my game was already fine. ” he says, tugging lani closer to him. 

lani laughed, pushing her hair back behind her shoulder. “i know you’re not, but i just wanted to double check. can never be too sure if someone could secretly be an absolute dork, you know?” she tilted her head to one side, looking him over. it was those moments that she was able to forget that their connection was anything less than normal. “depends on which game we’re talking about.”

nira: i'm not judging, nalani, i'm worried about you

nira: even when you're high?

nira: i just don't think people are actively counting down toward your eventual death??

nira: but maybe

lani: why worried?? i'm fine

lani: i'm definitely counting down to my eventual death

lani: oh, okay, that's why you're worried about me

she snorts at that, head shaking fondly at the other woman. she has a valid point and honestly, if that was what sam really wanted, she wouldn’t have gone out with lani in the first place. she was looking for a distraction, some real fun given how long it’s been since she’s properly gone out. she wants to take her mind off blackmailers, and failing as a parent, and everything else that troubles her mind. “you got a point, there. is this place still as fun as i remember it being?”

lani always found a reason to go out on the nights she wasn’t stuck working or with zeke. she reserved very few nights for staying in with nira -- someone she was going to have to work hard to not mention to sam. it’s not like it was weird, right? she knew nira was okay with the two being friends - she even made a point of talking about it with her - but there was still a pang of underlying guilt when she was around sam. “i mean, everywhere is fun with me? i’m offended you’d even suggest otherwise.”

kat: idk they also had who was most likely for world domination ??

kat: & thank you, baby

kat: excited & scared. a mixture.

lani: ha!! that's me

lani: ugh, no it's not but i'd like to think i'm cool enough to take over the world?