i will not cringe for them.

“Well not in that way anyway–” she couldn’t help but quip at the ass comment, a smirk curving her lips. “The fact that people think that all girls need is a good fuck and dick in their life is a fucking joke–” she muttered, “Fuck ‘em all, well not literally but seriously, don’t give two shits about them, they’re just wallowing in the pathetic status of their meaningless lives and do what they do best to try and bring others down. Ya hear that–” she raised her voice to a couple of gossiping high schoolers, girls who had been a couple of years below the two of them. “Go fuck yaselves, the Kira Pride stop and stare is fuckin’ over–” she called, the girls staring at Raven until she made a move towards them. “Fuck off already–!” she yelled, the girls scattering. 

Kira couldn’t help but laugh. It was a true enough statement in reality. She’d been a busy girl back then in more way than one. “Touché.” Kira watched on with amusement, not bothering to hide it when Raven turned around to give two whispering birds a piece of her mind. She’d been giggling up until their panicked eyes moved to Kira looking for back up. She probably should have done her best to call Raven off, knowing that they were insiders and all but instead she arched a brow and declined their plea with her own glare before they went running. “As much as I love seeing you play knight in- well let’s be realistic- dirt covered armor... Those twits are harmless. Annoying, but ultimately, nothing to worry about.”

After being together so long, it was like he had a radar, immediately able to recognize her voice in a crowded room. Then again, it wasn’t difficult when it was coming from right behind him; he hadn’t realized Kira was sitting there until she’d spoken. Since the breakup over the summer, in his best efforts to avoid awkward conversations, Charles had done his best to avoid her– which had been difficult to say the least, considering they shared a campus and mutual friends. Mentally he cursed at himself for getting near her, but to be fair–it had been her choice to sit so close to the cash register, and it was the lunch rush. For a moment he thought about just ignoring her, buying his food and taking it to meet his friends at their table in to corner. But if she happened to see him–and thought he was standing there to listen to her talk to herself–it would be even worse. So he’d suck it up.

“Believe me, nothing was further from my list of conversation topics.” 

She froze up momentarily as she heard his voice in her ears, feeling a little like she’d been struck in the chest as she pulled in a breath. She could ignore him, let him feel the sting of her silence but her lips already pursed to speak. She commanded her frozen limbs to thaw as she swiveled in her seat to face him, arching a brow. As if he would have any idea how it felt to be painted as a slut or an emotional wreck by anyone gossiped about it with nothing in between. Either she was making her rounds through the other sophomore boys or she was at home bawling according to what she’d heard. “Yeah I’m sure all those congratulatory slaps on the back from your boys for ditching your ol’ ball and chain must be starting bruise by now.” She responded, though her face was smiling it was anything but friendly. “Poor, Chuck.” Her nickname for him sat about as comfortably in her mouth as a razor blade, the best she could hope for was that it cut him too.

Ana listened avidly to the words coming out of Kira’s mouth. Of course she was curious as to what was going on inside the girl’s head– the breakup had been the shock of the century. King and Queen Bee suddenly not the power couple anymore? Calling it quits on some gross frat house lawn? The rumors were flying. She’d heard Charles had cheated, some slut at a frat party with fake boobs and a cheap wardrobe. But then she’d also heard that Kira had been loose with her friends…and his. And those weren’t even the craziest ones. But sitting here across from the former head cheerleader, Ana was not about to start digging for gossip. Be cool, she reminded herself, trying to look nonchalant as she wrinkled her nose at the tidbit of information. “Ew, that’s beyond vile. What a creep, checking up on teenagers.” 

At Kira’s words, she scoffed. “Let him, I don’t care if he hears me!” she declared boldly, though truthfully she knew she didn’t have enough social clout to be caught making statements like that. However she smiled as if she did, and after taking a bite of her salad, shrugged. “People should be asking him if he’s okay, he’s the one that needs it. Blowing it with Kira Pride?” she snorted. “Good luck ever recovering from that one.” Maybe she was laying it on a little thick, but she meant every word. Sure, Charles was the it-boy, the one with the slow grin and tousled hair, but Kira was the one who ran it all, beyond gorgeous and always perfectly poised. Anyone would have been a fool to think HE had come out of this better off. And as much as curiosity burned through her just as much as anyone else, sitting there across from Kira, Ana decided she wasn’t going to make her rehash the details. Shrugging again, she picked up her fork and speared another piece of lettuce. “But if you like, don’t want to talk about it, that’s totally fine. So old news.”

“I know right? Plus everything I’ve read on those blogs is utter crap too. Nobody cheated on anyone, nobody did anything. It just happens and now the town is treating it as though he smacked me around and I burned his house to the ground.” She sighed irritably. Even if she wanted to talk about the break up, she wouldn’t know what to say. They’d broken up over a text? Underlying trust issues? The fact that they were stubborn and caught in a game of break up chicken and both had too much pride to fix it? No, instead she’d reinforce that it was civil, despite the amount of people that had caught them fighting that night

Kira couldn’t help but laugh at Ana’s bluster, a genuine grin on her lips for the first time in what felt like forever. “Settle down, mighty mouse.” She teased, patting the girl’s hand reassuringly before reaching into her bag, digging around for a granola bar. She felt a faint flush on her cheeks at Ana’s words, shaking her head a little. “I mean, I’d love for him to be hung up about it. But with him and Garrett in the same dorm I’m pretty sure we’re going to have a condom crisis in the next few weeks.” She joked bitterly, unwrapping her snack. “Which is fine, I have a date Friday anyways. He should be happy.” She failed to mention that the date was over long before it started. It was more that if she was spotted out with some other boys, people might leave her be rather than her being ready for other guys. She’d tried sex a couple of times since the break up, but nothing ruined the moment quite like crying. “Anyways, that’s enough about my boring love life. Who are you scoping these days?”

“Easy killer!” He grinned, throwing his hands up in surrender. “I was just wond’rin when your ass planned on gettin’ t’ fuck off’a my couch. No rush or anythin’” He snorted, throwing himself down beside the blonde, taking the drink from her hand and taking a sip before gagging. “What the fuck flavor is that?!” He accused, licking his stained sleeve to eradicate the taste from his mouth. “If you want, I can hook you up with one of my boys. Palate cleanser as it were. Or maybe ya should give your other boyfrien’ a call. Michael, Eric. I lose track of your rapid thigh movements.” He snorted, scooting over before risking a slap.

She eyed him moodily as he came to collapse beside her one the crumb covered couch, lord knows she definitely wasn’t on her side of the tracks with this mess. She grinned as he almost spat her drink back up, taking it back with a smug smile. “Oh it’s stawberry.” She mused, holding up the vaguely pink beverage. “It just has kale and raw egg in it too.” Definitely an acquired taste, not one that she’d acquired by choice. She just about puked the first time she’d drank it too. “I think my days of hopping outsiders ended a while back,” She laughed before scowling, reaching to slap him but he was too quick. “Shut the hell up, you’re in no place to be pointing fingers and promiscuity.”

“Oh–I wasn’t going to!” Ana squeaked out, surprised by the sudden vehement outburst by the blonde in front of her. For a moment she debated steering clear, before reminding herself that this was Kira Pride, and decisively sitting down in the empty seat across the table. The student center wasn’t crowded, but they were friends–she didn’t have to wait for an invitation. Smiling, she added, “Personally I think you’re better off without him”, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she poured dressing on her salad. 

Kira didn’t know when her sadistic streak developed. If it was bring with Charles or if it had been simply lurking in her personality since childhood. But she liked the squeaking of girl’s that thought she was about kick off. It was a noise her squad used to make a lot. Maybe it was simply that she liked feeling powerful after all those years of feeling anything but. “Relax, it’s fine. It’s just- Even my teachers brought it up. I can’t even stress how creepy it is that Mr. McKinnon even reads trashy blogs.” She grumbled, taking a bitter sip of her drink. For what little it was worth, she actually liked Ana. Girl’s that were smart enough to stay out of her way always had Kira’s immediate respect. It didn’t hurt that Eric had spoken of her once or twice. Like all things that were too hard for Kira to process, she had pushed the break up and the pain that went with it down until she was numbed. It had a special spot in her cabinet of masked pain right next to her parents and a little left of Michael. Kira was far from unintelligent or naive when it came to aiming to elevate their position on the social totem pole. She wasn’t blind enough to think that should someone more intimidating than Kira herself, asked her what she thought of the break up, her answer may change.

Still, it was sort of nice to hear the words. Even if it was all anyone said to her lately before undoubtedly repeating the same thing to her ex. Each time she heard it, it stirred her protective nature. Though they were no longer together and on the surface she was glad, Charles had been, is and would possibly always be one of the most important aspects of her life. He was the one she’d chosen and she’d been stupid enough to think it could’ve lasted. She would always feel defensive when someone spoke down about him. He might’ve let her down, he may’ve broke her heart and he may be parading around town like that meant nothing to him, but he was a good man. she had faith that he’d continue to be, even without her. “Don’t let him catch you saying that.” Kira joked lightly.

She merely shrugged before returning to her laptop, “I didn’t say a word–” she replied with  a sigh. “Though I’m kinda over hearin’ about it every goddamn second of the day, I have better things to talk about then hearin’ about you and golden boys lovey dovey drama–”

“You think I like that I can’t get two feet in any door without someone bringing it up?” Kira snapped, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Seriously, a few damn zero’s in my bank account and these asshole think that they deserve an all access pass to my life.” She sighed, lounging in her seat like a lazed cat. “God, it almost makes me miss the days of Mutt hopping, at least people weren’t on my ass twenty-four/seven. Lately it’s do this, do that. Get back on that horse as if I need a dick in me to think!”

GH: Don't make me come around and drag you out in your sweatpants Pride, I will do it.

GH: Get your sexiest outfit on, I'm taking you out. G.