/ * poison !

          &.   *    /   REGARDLESS   OF   HOW   ROCKY   THEIR   friendship   was   ,   dolce   was   someone   lane   wanted   in   her   life.   laughing   at   someone’s   joke   ,   her   face   drops   the   second   they   leave   and   her   eyes   roll   before   she   sends   the   other   kappa   a   look.               ‘   talk   about   insensitive   ,   right   ?   joking   about   the   fire   isn’t   cool.   ’   she   raises   her   eyebrows   ,   as   if   she   wasn’t   talking   shit   about   the   (   ex   )   lambda   shed   that   morning.

           &.   *   /   SHE   LEANS   FORWARD   WHEN   SHE   LAUGHS   ,   running   her   fingertips   along   his   bicep   as   she   pretends   to   catch   herself   on   him.   remi’s   entertaining   ,   even   lane   can’t   deny   that   he’s   got   a   great   sense   of   humor.   her   touch   lingers   on   him   for   a   second   more   as   she   looks   up   to   meet   his   gaze   ,   and   after   a   beat   ,   she   pulls   away   completely.   she   takes   a   small   step   away   from   him   ,   crossing   her   arms   over   her   chest   and   raising   an   eyebrow.               ‘   i’m   so   glad   you’re   okay   ,   though.   the   fire   must’ve   been   scary.   ’

          &.   *   /    IF   HE   WERE   ANYONE   ELSE   ,   lane   would’ve   skipped   right   over   him   ,   choosing   to   sit   by   herself   and   judge   people   on   her   own   terms   without   interruption.   but   she’d   found   herself   enjoying   topher’s   company   ,   maybe   for   nefarious   reasons   ,   but   it   was   much   more   entertaining   than   wondering   what   the   rest   of   the   student   body   was   stressed   with.   sliding   in   next   to   the   other   ,   she   keeps   her   voice   just   loud   enough   to   be   heard   by   him.               ‘   hey   toph,   ’   she   greets.               ‘   what’s   the   wildest   thing   you’ve   ever   done   on   campus   ?   ’

          &.   *   /   IT’S   EARLY   MORNING   WHEN   SHE   finds   herself   at   the   kappa   house   ,   no   not   her   kappa   house   ,   the   other   kappa   house   –   the   one   she   shouldn’t   be   seen   at.   nonetheless   ,   she   sits   on   the   front   steps   ,   a   plate   of   food   on   her   lap   as   she   people   watches   ,   observing   the   early   birds   as   they   start   their   days.   she   waves   to   another   sorority   member   as   the   door   to   the   fraternity   house   opens   up   behind   her   and   she   stops   chewing   ,   turning   around   to   face   them.               ‘   in   my   defense   ,   the   front   door   was   unlocked   and   i   found   my   car   keys   next   to   this   plate.   ’

          &.   *   /    NOSE   CRINKLING   UP   AT   HER   REFLECTION   ,   lane   gives   a   twirl   and   watches   her   skirt   barely   lift.   her   favorite   ,   classic   red   plaid   skirt   is   officially   dead   and   she’s   about   ready   to   give   up   on   everything.   she   groans   dramatically   ,   throwing   herself   on   chandler’s   bed   and   buries   her   face   in   the   blankets   before   poking   her   head   up   ,   pout   on   her   pink   painted   lips.               ‘   do   you   know   how   many   free   things   i   got   in   this   skirt   ?   it   was   that   fucking   fire   ,   it   cursed   everything   i   wore   that   night.   ’

dark   hues   roll   incredulously   ,   manicured   nails   tapping   lightly   on   the   backs   of   the   folders   she’s   carrying.               ‘   what   do   i   look   like   ?   a   lambda   sig   monkey   ?   ’   she   asks   ,   changing   her   tone   just   enough   to   make   it   seem   like   she’s   teasing   the   party   boys.               ‘   i’m   joking.   ’   SHE’S NOT.               ‘   i   do   join   in   ,   just   selectively   –   when   it   feels   right   ,   not   when   it’s   forced.   if   i   feel   like   i   have   to   join   in   ,   i’m   not   going   to.   ’

her   phone’s   being   held   up   to   her   ear   by   her   shoulder   ,   but   suddenly   lane   feels   horrible   for   not   being   there   for   felicity.   she   changes   positions   ,   bringing   her   hand   up   to   hold   her   hand   while   she   adjusts   her   bag   on   her   back.               ‘   i’m   sorry   ,   lis.   i   was   studying   ,   you   know   how   i   get,   ’   she   lies.   she   was   doing   someone   ,   definitely   not   anyone   important   , and   nobody   will   ever   know   who   it   is   –   and   she   could’ve   spent   her   time   with   felicity   instead.               ‘   i’m   here   now   though   and   i’m   on   my   way   back   to   the   house.   i’ll   pick   up   stuff   and   we   can   have   an   old   style   sleepover   !   ’

she   knows   it’ll   be   alright   ,   but   the   way   she’s   hugging   remi   might   say   otherwise.   she’s   shaking   ,   or   rather   ,   forcing   herself   to   shiver   from   the   ‘   fear   of   an   arsonist   ’   after   the   lambda   fire.   she   doesn’t   feel   great   about   playing   remi   like   a   game   ,   but   she’s   not   going   to   lie   –   it’s   the   most   fun   she’s   had   since   her   last   big   project.   lower   lip   sticking   out   slightly   to   form   a   perfectly   rehearsed   pout   ,   she   looks   up   at   the   football   player.               ‘   remi   ,   this   is   so   scary.   ’   she   leans   her   head   on   his   chest   again.               ‘   i   hope   you’re   right.   ’

she’s   not   the   best   influence   –   anyone   on   greek   row   could   tell   you   that.   lane   hasn’t   exactly   been   trying   to   hide   that   she’d   much   rather   be   the   devil   on   your   shoulder   than   the   angel   ,   but   seeing   her   latest   little   project   in   tears   tugs   (   annoyingly   )   at   her   heartstrings.   she   almost   feels   bad   ,   walking   up   to   him   and   taking   a   seat   next   to   him   on   the   stairs   ,   leaning   against   him   as   a   friendly   gesture.                  ‘   you   wanna   talk   about   it   ?   ’   she   asks   him.               ‘   if   not   ,   i   know   a   great   diner   where   we   can   go   get   some   greasy   food   and   ignore   whatever’s   bothering   you.   ’               –   to   an   outsider   ,   she’s   being   a   good   friend   –   but   there’s   no   better   way   to   get   someone   to   trust   you   by   being   there   for   them   when   they’re   down.

[ LANE ] to [ stassie. ] (  18:01 ) what’s your whole anti-party thing about , anyway ? i mean if it’s about getting caught and / or saving face , i could help you out w some life tips.

@aniksfm sent ▲

[ LANE ] to [ sister r. ] (  23:43  ) hs couldn’t have been that bad for ya anyway , you’re a bad bitch.