not your punching bag

Abigail: Hey. Where are you?

Abigail: I hope you're alright.

Abigail: I know you're not in jail though, so that's something.

Justin: I'm at home, I'm all good.

ABIGAIL.

✦

   “You already are.” murmured the brunette under her breath, uncaring as to whether or not Justin had heard her then. She liked this, coaxing guys out of their shells to follow after her wily whims. “Actually, you’d be the first to say that. Most find me… rousing.” Abigail was aware of her prowess, sure, but given that she was serving a calming effect over Justin, perhaps she didn’t know the full extent of it just yet. Or maybe, just maybe, there was a reason why she had that effect on him. 

   Following after his apparent lead, she soon began inching closer to him, watching his features shift for that hint of vulnerability there. “Thank you. You’re too sweet.” Abigail all but purred. “Did anyone tell you you’re looking mighty fine tonight? And it’s not just the hair.” she added in teasing, slowly sliding her hands up from his shoulders to loosely loop them around his neck, allowing herself to be physically, wholly drawn into him.

"Rousing, huh?” Maybe arousing, but he wouldn’t say that outloud. He wasn’t the most straightfoward type, honestly. “You are fun to be around, yeah,” But he probably thought that for more different reasons than others. “And not just at parties.” 

“Wow, I’m surprised it’s just not the hair tonight,” He knew she liked his hair and she honestly couldn’t blame him. He looked good, he had nice hair, that he knew. “But nah, you’re the first and only one. Has the hair got you under a spell?” 

ABIGAIL.

✦

   If Abigail had to do the bulk of the work, then so be it. Frankly, she was just glad he eventually said yes to the dance, and not be flat-out rejected. 

   Once on the dance floor, the brunette was hardly the type to hold back, reveling in the snazzy jazz beat that filled the space. “I’ve had my experiences with guys who can’t dance before, but I’m always down for the memorable ones.” She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t keen on a little play and tease with him, just because Justin had always been the intriguing, quiet one to her

   Gently taking him by the hands, she guided them to rest on her hips, all as she swayed rightly in rhythm to the music. “Just lighten up. I’ve got you.” smirked Abigail, bringing her hands to hold him by the shoulders, keeping a respectable space between them for his own comfort. 

“I can be memorable, I promise,” He shouted over the music, “Lighten up, gotcha,” He just needed to pretend like he was high and not almost shaking from how nervous he was. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re very calming?” At least that’s how he felt with her. He didn’t know why she was so far away, trying to move their bodies closer together. Dancing was about the chemistry, it seemed like they had it right now. “Y’know, you really look beautiful tonight.” 

As soon as he saw the familiar woman, he almost sprinted towards her, “Sophia, hey,” He smiled, happy to see another member around. At least he wouldn’t have to go for another thing of smalltalk, though he didn’t mind having to do so. It just got exhausting sometimes. “Wow, you look great. How’s the night been going?” 

ABIGAIL.

✦

   Leave it to Justin to have to make Abigail insist, even. “Oh, come on. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to.” she reiterated, knowing that unlike most, Justin was a different kind. He was far from the types of guys she’d encountered; he was softer, a complete opposite to her strong, assertive personality. Heck, she wouldn’t even take no for an answer now.  

   Deeming his unsure answer to be good enough, the brunette, held him by the arm, taking the glass in his hand as she set it down the nearest surface, whilst tugging him to come with . “Come on. I’ll lead and make you look pretty. All you gotta do is stand there.” she teased, certainly unwilling to not let him experience the dance floor. “At least put that suit of yours to good use, Justin.”

He couldn’t help but smile, giving her a nod. "If you insist,” He was not going to turn down a dance with such a gorgeous woman. And it wasn’t like this happened that often for him anyways. 

As they got onto the dance floor, he tried to seem a little more confident than he was. Hopefully it was working, “So do you have to lead often or is this your first time? Cause if it is, well, I guess you could say, I make things very memorable.” 

ABIGAIL.

with @justinedwrds​

   Noting her favourite blond locks in the sea of attendees, Abigail Price wasted no time in approaching him. She was a free woman, after all, and could do whatever the hell she liked and whatever she pleased. For tonight, it meant getting as many compliments and dances out of the men she could actually stand… or gasp, like. 

   Finding him free in the moment, the brunette came up to him with a sway on her hips, sporting a charming smile that ought to disarm anyone, really. “What’s it gonna take to get a dance out of you, Justin?” queried Abi, warming up to him more and more, the longer she stayed in Vegas. ”You gonna make me stand here and bat my eyelashes at you for ages?”

Justin was tapping on the glass in his hand, trying to not be awkward. Or as awkward as he could be. "Abi, hey,” He smiled widely, lokoing at the familiar female. It was nice to see her outside of her doing work. And swaying her hips, wow. He gave her a reluctant nod, “Are you saying you wanna dance?” He just wanted to make sure he was hearing her correctly. “You’re probably gonna have to lead, I don’t know anythin’ about dancing,” 

MIRAH.

Fuck this hangover. 

Mirah could hear her pulse as her blood drained in her ears, simultaneously amplifying any sound around her as she concealed her pinned hues behind thick sunglasses. An equally obnoxious hat covered the rest of her face as she stumbled into the convenience store, tossing aspirin and the first bottle of a lime-green electrolyte she could find into her tote. 

In her experience, the more artificially-preserved the color of the pedialyte, the better it cured her hangover. She grabbed a punch-flavored one, too, for added measure, not realizing she was about to cut off another customer as she migrated to the parking lot after paying. “No, sorry, you’re fine. It’s me, I grow two left feet when I’m hungover.” She offered a half-hearted smile, glancing into his basket. 

“Dunkaroos? I…no, never had them. But why does that sound like the only remotely appetizing thing I could eat, right now? I’m about to consume unnecessary processed sugar and I blame you.” Adjusting her tote strap over her shoulder, Mirah pulled the shades off her face to treat herself to a better look at the blond male.

“Are those Camel Crushes or Newports? Either way, can I bum one?”

“Oh yeah, damn. Being hungover and shopping is even worse too,” He had done it way too often, “Good luck in there, you’ll need it,” Justin teased, knowing that all those bright lights in there did not do him any favors. 

He smiled at her, happy that he could at least convince one person to try his favorite snack as a kid. “I mean, it’s worth it. Sure the sugar rush is a lot, but like, they’re really good. Who doesn’t love frosting?” 

“Camel,” He confirmed as he pulled his pack out from his pocket and handed her one. “You need a light too?” 

OCTAVIA.

Around 5pm Octavia had looked up from her laptop and realized she hadn;t eaten anything since yesterday morning. Usually, she got hungry constantly but the one exception to that rule occurred when she was engrossed in a project. Today, that specific project had been hacking into multiple sites and deleting human trafficking in the state of Nevada off the internet and anonymously sending the ISPs to LVPD as best one person could in 24 hours. Sure, it was playing whack-a-mole but it was worth it. Even still, she needed to eat. The fridge was empty so she ran to the grocery store, furiously scribbling down a shopping list as she entered the store. As a result she made contact with someone. Taking a step back, she realized who it was. “No, I didn’t. Thank you for that important information. Good to see you again….Justin?” Fingers crossed she’d gotten his name right.

He shifted the bags in his hand, trying to make them more comfortable. "Oh yeah, that’s me,” He confirmed as he gave her a nod. “So are you gonna get the dunkaroos?” He raised his brow, curious at her response. Maybe he should be the spokesperson for them. “Cause they’re really good and pretty addicting if you ask me. And sorta bring that nostalgia back.” 

AMARA.

Amara peered at the male and nodded her head when he asked if he was in the way. “Unfortunately, it isn’t the first time either.” she had been convinced that the male was just trying to piss her off today by getting in her way time and time again. However, she was realizing that perhaps he was just that dumb. “No? I don’t work here nor do I have a care for snacks like dunkaroos.” Her head shook as she swiped her hand across the space between them to signal for him to stay on his side.

"Uh, sorry,” He recoiled, not wanting to mess with her. Chicks like that scared him, really. He just never really knew what to do when he started getting virtually attacked for just existing. “What kinda snacks do you have then? Cause these are superior.” 

AIDAN.

Aidan walked up towards the entrance of the store when he noticed Justin standing there, his hands slipped into his pockets, tilting his head a little to the side. “Didn’t you just come out of there? Did you not see them?” 

Justin nodded at his question, “I got ‘em, man,” He held his bag up, “I was just wonderin’ if you did or are goin’ to cause I still dream about these things.” 

JAMESON.

Jameson hated doing every day thing’s. The idea of shopping for anything made him want to hang out in his office most of the day and never come out. However, him and Lily worked such odd hours from each other, he knew it was only fair to do his share of the work. When he saw the familiar face outside, Jameson smirked at how weird it was to see any of them in casual day to day situations at times. He hadn’t expected the response he got though from the other man. “ Wait what?” Jameson replied raising an eyebrow. “ Don’t tell me your bag is filled with Dunkaroos Justin. “ 

Justin was still a kid at heart, always making sure to get his favorite treats when he went shopping.  He pulled his bag behind him so that James couldn’t see his haul. “What? No,” God, he was a bad liar. But maybe, just maybe he was convincing enough. “Okay yeah, but they’re really good. Have you ever had one?” 

ABIGAIL.

   “Edwards,” uttered Abigail in acknowledgement, catching sight of the luscious blonde locks she would forever be envious about. “not at all, no.” If anything, she was heading into the store herself, needing to pick up a couple of items seeing as her twin was too busy to do it for her. But of course, the sight of Justin was enough to pause her in her tracks, curiouser now with the sudden trailing of his voice. “Spill. Don’t leave me hanging now.” she urged, wanting to hear what he had to say. But of course, Justin easily had her attention redirected, her immediate reaction being to glance inside the store. “They are?” She hadn’t had Dunkaroos in a while. “Shit, I gotta get me some of those.”

“Abigail,” He responded, knowing for some reason that it’d be weird to call her by her last name. “I was just thinkin’ ‘bout the fact that I haven’t run into you in a while, is all,” He hoped that’d be enough for her not to press it anymore, “I honestly, didn’t really peg you as a fan of dunkaroos. Figured you were too mature or something.” She was at least more mature than he was, honestly. 

CAMILLE.

//

Camille nodded her head a little. “I may have been getting a little ill tempered but I’ve been standing here for over thirty minutes,” she lifted her eyes up towards the male’s face, letting her hands wrap around the cup as she tapped her fingers against it. “Well… I thought it was obvious.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m gettin’ a drink?”

“That’s a longass time. I’d be the same way,” He didn’t blame her at all. "Oh yeah, that makes sense,” He noted, trying not to be so damn awkward, “So can I keep you company or uh, are you meeting someone or something?” He didn’t want to intrude, really, though he would love to catch up with her. 

CAMILLE.

special delivery - @justinedwrds​

Camille sat at the bar, her fingers drumming against the surface as she watched the bartender move to what seemed like everyone but her. An exhale left her lips as she brushed her tongue along her lower lip as she slowly chewed on her lower lip, feeling the frustration start to build in her chest. “Come on -” she began until she heard someone next to her call for the bartender, her head slowly turned to source of the voice, noticing who it was. “- Justin,” she said softly, swallowing before clearing her throat. “Thank you,”

He watched Camille seemingly struggle with ordering, moving towards the front of the bar to motion towards the bartender for her. “It’s the least I could do,” He noted, “You seemed to be getting frustrated,” Maybe that was pointing out the obvious but he didn’t like to see her struggle. “What are you doing here?” It just felt strange to see her in the flesh for some reason.