𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚙

“Oh,” Marie paused, taking in the person in front of her. “I think you meant ‘Excuse Me’ “

jubileena giggles at the blonde, head shaking, “ don’t be silly ! i totally think i’d know if i had meant to say excuse me. ”

wendy: yike can we just call it a spa day

wendy: it sounds much less sad

jubileena: oh, fineee!

Rainie: I'm just nervous about not having it.

Rainie: You know? It's unnerving not being able to use it.

Leena: Totally get it! This is exactly how I was yesterday when I couldn't find my phone.

Leena: I completely missed 304 messages in our gc because of it :,c

——- John watched her think it over, feeling a bit self conscious for talking too much. His advice wasn’t asked for, or well, it was but not in a literal sense. He looked back down at his book, fully intending on forgetting he ever even opened his stupid mouth.       But he couldn’t help but glance up when she agreed with him, John watching her snap the picture. Her obvious glee was enough for him to confirm he did the right thing, John sitting up a bit when the phone was shoved back in his face. He looked at the picture, giving an awkward smile and nodding, ❝ Yeah, it looks really good. Very uh, Vogue. ❞      Idiot, that was so lame.          ❝ Glad I could help. ❞ he quickly added, trying to cover up any social blunders he may have just made.

jubileena’s cheeks flush at the compliment. vogue ?? she isn’t certain whether or not he’d said so because it was the very first thing to spring to mind or because he actually knew something about the fashion magazine, but leena’s heart s o a r s at the comparison. after all, vogue was practically the girl’s bible ! she certainly read it as religiously. “ goodness, i wish ! this is just for instagram, but that is the big d r e a m, ” she explains, twirling a dark lock around her fingertip. “ oh, but you’re ... well, you’re about as sweet as my favorite cherry pie for saying that.” 

a beat passes. leena’s trying to figure out why it is he looks familiar, but it’s just not coming to her. did they go to high school together ? for someone so clued in to carthay, she's starting to realize there’s still plenty that falls below her radar. propping her elbows up on the table, the girl rests her chin in her hands ( her selfies a thing of the past ) as she decides on giving him her sole attention. “ what’s your name ? i’ve seen you around, i know i have ... but i can’t figure out where. ” 

Rainie: No, he won't answer any of my texts, the dumb bitch.

Rainie: Have you seen him lately?

Leena: Not since King Candy's! But I think Cara was supposed to hang out with him to take some pictures??

Rainie: Yo, I need your help.

Rainie: I lost my board and I was wondering if you had seen it...

Rainie: It's very important

Leena: I haven't I'm sorry :c

——- John sat in uncomfortable silence, trying to go back to studying but he couldn’t help but glance up every so often over the brim of his book at the girl. He didn’t really get it, but he tried not to be the judging type.      He perked up when she spoke, eyes darting from her to the phone as she turned it around to show him, ❝ Oh - uh, yeah. Looks nice. ❞ He commented, trying to go back to reading. However, it looks like she was a conversationalist, so he set the book down, and gave her the attention.       ❝ Uh…Yeah, I think so ? I mean, it’s a good picture. ❞ He looked at it for a moment, then back at her, ❝ Try tucking your hair over your right ear, the sun is coming in from the east window. You’ll get more of a glow on your face. Also smile with your teeth in the photo, people tend to perceive that as someone who is carefree and confident. it’ll make…Whoever the idiot is, feel like an idiot. ❞

leena raises an eyebrow, head tilting with sudden curiosity and interest. after all, it’s m o r e than she expected to get. it’s helpful and constructive, and she fully appreciates that he doesn’t seem to be judging her for simply asking — at least, not like the last person she asked. boy, was that a mistake !  she tries not to frown as she thinks of it. frankly, she’s not even sure rancis would’ve given her such advice, and he loves taking pictures of himself ! it’s why he’s normally her go to for any of those bff-approval-needed sort of selfies.

“ oh, do you really think so ? ” she asks, turning her phone back around to see for herself. she takes one look at the photo, though, and can’t help but agree, “ duh, of course ! carefree and confident, you are sooo right ! ” heeding his instructions, leena tucks her hair over her right ear and beams for the camera, positioning herself just right so that she can catch that perfect golden hour glow. snap. a quick look at the photo and she’s clapping her hands in glee at the result, turning the device once more for him to see. “ what do you think, do you like it ... ? ”

“I’ve worked two weeks straight and this is really not a good time right now.” Helen shifted the bag of groceries on to her hip. She was trying to be the mom who worked and still ran a household to give Bob some type of break. A girl can only be spread so thin though, right? “All I’m asking is five minutes to put these groceries up and to sit down and then I will help.”

wendy: awesome i'm 100% down for all of this.

wendy: oof i don't think a kit charming is really my type.

wendy: but anyways, it's ironic isn't it?

wendy: to be aged tremendously by someone who refuses to grow up

jubileena: the point is kit charming is a MAN and peter is a BOY

jubileena: wrinkles are no laughing matter !

❝ Oh, uh, yeah. Sure, you can sit here. ❞        John put his book down so he could move his backpack and the rest of his things over to make room on the table. He hadn’t expected anyone else wanting to sit here. Silly him.      ❝ Sorry about that. ❞

“ oh em gee, it’s fine ! ” leena assures, quick about placing her valentino on the table as she fishes for her mobile device and takes a seat. without missing a beat, she hoists the phone in the air, tilting her head left and right for the camera. snap. snap. snap. “ i don’t like ... have to read or study or anything, ” she takes a second to explain, blowing a kiss at her phone. “ this table just has the BEST lighting for selfies. what do you think ? ” she asks, turning her phone for him to see the different shots on the screen that she’s taken of herself before stopping at one she’d captured only seconds before, “ does this one say: you’re an idiot and should’ve never broken up with me ... but it’s totally zingy because i look so good without you ?? ”

“ well … we’re not really a clique, silly !! we’re a family !! who’s this fairy squad, though ? they can’t be all that relevant if i don’t even know who they are, right ?? wait, wait, wait … oh em gee, you’re so funny … are we talking about that if-the-lost-boys-had-a-spin-off sort of wannabe group ?? ‘cause that’s a big, big n e v e r !! i can’t wait to tell taff about this one ! ” 

taffyta couldn’t get over how funny that image was in her head. it almost had her spitting out her drink ( but obviously she didn’t – she had class ). “ gosh, the BERRIES on that girl. sometimes i wonder if she’ll ever learn her place around town. ” taffyta set her drink down and leaned forward– the perfect positioning for gossip. “ if you ask me, i think she’s trying to be like ella. that girl’s caught kit’s attention and she’s only like, a year or two older than we are. it wouldn’t surprise me if vanellope was trying to get a taste. ”

Vanellope rolled her eyes in annoyance at the girls sickly sweet attitude before deciding to mock it, just as she had mocked her. She smiled sweetly back at the girl before speaking up, “I don’t think I’m saving myself necessarily, I think what’s really going on is that I’m saving all of you from embarrassment. You all talk quite a big game, but honestly, you’re afraid.” She spoke, her smile turning into a sly smirk. “I can beat Taffyta easily, it’s not even a question. You’re afraid of what I’m actually capable of, and honestly, it’s quite the compliment, so t-thank you.” She finished, letting out a small breath of air she didn’t know she was holding in. 

wendy: well then you have to be my tan france 🤷🏻‍♀️

wendy: okay "over it" is a strong phrase

wendy: *moving on* bc im exhausted is more accurate i think

jubileena: please !! i can even ask cara to help. she has such great style and with our help i know you'll be a whole new, empowered woman. this is soooo exciting !

jubileena: i knew pp was the one responsible for aging you like five years :((

jubileena: this is excatly why i tell my sugar babies to never settle for a peter pan when you can have a kit charming