LIGHTNING STRIKES.

haru wasn’t dumb; she didn’t need anyone to show her how to do something as simple as stir a drink. but he had a hard time saying no to her, especially when she sounded and looked like that, so he cleared his throat, taking one of her hands in his own and resting them against the glass; the other directing her hand up to her straw to stir the drink. afterwards, mixed to an almost cheery lime green, he let his thumbs drift over her knuckles. “you still have to try it.” he said softly, letting go and leaning back to clear his head.

sometimes she wished for a normal life. she wanted to be a normal girl with normal parents and go to a normal school have a normal boyfriend like him -- but she was sure she wouldn’t see that in this lifetime. still haru found herself reaching for him as he let go of her. her fingers curled around his, squeezing gently before she took the drink into her hands. “i’ll try it if you stop being mad at me.” her eyes met his before she nodded to the seat next to her. fully expecting him to take it, haru lifted the straw to her lips and took a small sip. “you really are an ogden, hm.”

miles didn’t know whether to smile or grimace, “rum—-something tropical, maybe?” he avoided her eyes, focused on the glass in front of him as he poured a few liquors and some mixers into it, the end result a striking blue mixture on the bottom of the glass with a yellow one on top. “hope you like coconut. you mix it first, but uh, you know—-presentation.” he pushed it towards her, glancing out towards the party. “you come here with nott? does he need a drink, too?”

“can’t you just act like normal. he’s not here.” she shifted uncomfortably on her chair, frowning down at the pretty drink he’d poured for her. the night had an annoying start and she hadn’t quite shook her disappointment in brent just yet. with a sigh she nudged the glass back to him and in an uncharacteristically small voice she asked, “show me how?” it wasn’t like she didn’t know how just that she wanted him to do something other than avoid her.

“nets? really? but i wanted to swim!” leda was tipsy, and giggly, and shaking her head, “of course i can swim, it’s practically a requirement at aquária!”

“the water is warmer than you think it is. ” haru stated as she sipped her drink, “you’d have better luck in the ‘hot’ tub on the upper deck...if it’s not full.”

miles searched for a drink, quickly finding an unmanned bar and opting to make his own. he’d just finished mixing it up when someone else approached, looking at him expectantly. “i’m not much of a bartender,” patently false, “but i’ll do my best. what’ll you have?”

“surprise me.” she tapped her nails against the bar top before busying herself with her reflection off her phone screen. glancing at him once-- twice as she made sure that every hair was as perfect as it could get with the ocean wind. “maybe something sweet...with rum?”

“I have informed you multiple times already that I have no interest in going.” His hands were jammed into his pockets, determined to keep eye contact with the insistent female despite his desire to vacate the premises. The girl was hovering over the portkey near the dock and kept on prattling on about international cooperation and the need for all of them to socialize together. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Brent turned to make his leave, only for the female to grab and tuck at his arm with a Wait, I promise it’ll be fun. Momentarily freezing at the physical contact, Brent felt the beginnings of a migraine that he was near certain would last for the upcoming months throbbing in his head. 

haru had spotted him just in the nick of time. heels sounded out a confident walk as she headed over towards the pair -- or lack thereof -- eyes practically on fire. the fact that there would no doubtfully be cameras around was more than enough to split the two apart. “get lost.” if looks could kill the girl would have dropped right there. though that look softened as she turned to her --fiance? friend? neither seemed to fit but she had already tore the girl’s hand from his arm. “if you can’t handle some girl hanging all over you, how are you going to handle anything else?”