𝑳𝑼𝑵𝑨𝑹

maeve will admit that the music being blasted on the grounds was top tier. parties weren’t her cup of tea but she enjoyed them from time to time. as usual, she found a spot away from the crowd. she had a couple of beers, maybe a shot here and there, but she was totally fine— or so she tells herself. she, too, liked to let loose sometimes even in her own little ways. maeve found herself jumping and dancing to the music, not caring that her hair was a complete mess and pieces stuck to her forehead. it was dark, who else was going to see anyway. though, she spoke too soon. “oh umm—” she cleared her throat, pulling down her shirt, and tucking her hair behind her ear; a sad attempt at looking well kept. “the music is really good. do you want a shot?” she at least thought to awkwardly offer them a drink. // @gallagherstart​

    MIMI COULDN’T HELP the giggle that escaped her at the girls’ flustered expression. Seeing other people have fun and be happy, even if only for a moment, made her feel GOOD. Perhaps Gallagher was moving forward. “It is,” she agreed. “And, sure! I’ll definitely need a couple more before I get brave enough to start dancing like a crazy person,” Mimi ended with a laugh.

                ever   since   her   first   year   attending   gallagher,   cherry   blossom   season   became   her   favorite   time   of   the   school   year.   the   blooms   of   the   flowers   and   the   aroma   is   just   so   CALMING   to   her;   however,   with   everything   going   on,   it’s   just   bad   timing.   mara   yearned   to   go   see   them,   so   she   promised   herself   only   a   quick   stroll   around   the   park   before   retreating   from   the   party.   she   is   on   her   way   back   with   a   little   satisfied   smile   on   her   visage   when   a   familiar   voice   calls   out   to   her.   mara   had   managed   to   not   speak   to   anybody,   but   it   was   too   good   to   be   true.   the   brunette   pivots   to   face   mimi,   mirroring   her   soft   smile   to   hide   her   mild   annoyance.   ❛   hi.   i   just   wanted   to   see   the   cherry   blossoms   and   get   some   fresh   air,   s’all.   ❜     

    SHE NODDED HER head in understanding as it suddenly made sense. Mara didn’t exactly give her a party vibe. In fact she, like her brother, constantly made Mimi feel uneasy. Like they deign to even consider her existence. It honestly made her feel angry and WORTHLESS in the same breath. But it was probably just her imagination...right? “Were you at least going to stay for a drink?” She forced out after a moment. “They’re making some killer cocktails surprisingly.”

sage took the bottle for herself, almost cradling it with love. “oh, boy…” she said, taking a long sip before she put it down closer to mimi so she could drink some more. she was not going down by herself tonight. “that’s… i’m so fucking boring, i swear,” she admitted, covering her eyes. “i’ve never… actually… hooked up… with anyone?” she said, her voice going high pitched to a point it was almost ridiculous. “i’ll change it for a kiss, because i’ve had… some awful ones. this boy… he like… ate something spicy. like ridiculously spicy before a party– and i only know this, because fuck– we ended up making out, and i… was burning. i mean, my lips, my tongue, my fucking throat… it was BAD. and i mean it in all caps. i swear.”

    THE GIRLS’ CONFESSION rattled her rather inebriated mind. So much so that her horrible makeout story barely registered with Mimi. “What do you mean you’ve never hooked up with anyone?” She asked incredulously. “Sage! You’re joking right?” In Mimi’s eyes, she had to be. Just looking at her, the girl knew she definitely had to have offers for it. Sage was beautiful ─ there had to have been guys AND girls lining up for the opportunity. 

            ‘  hiiiiiiiiiii  ,  ’    she  drawls  out  ,   big  ocean  eyes  blinking  up  towards  the  brunette  with  a  SHINING  smile  .   strawberry  blonde  hums  as  she  considers  the  girl’s  questions  ,   head  tilting  as  her  hand  absentmindedly  reaches  for  a  piece  of  fruit  off  of  mimi’s  tray  .     ‘  absolutely  nothing !  i’m  just  …  hanging  .  ’  

    MIMI NODDED ALONG understandingly. It just happened to be one of those days. “I get it. Happiness looks good on you,” she complimented before popping a piece of fruit in her mouth as well. “At least ONE of my cousin’s is feeling alright. I’ve been worried about Kass lately. Have you talked to her?” Mimi asked worriedly.

         the   party   is   DIFFERENT   than   spencer   anticipates   .   the   loss   of   one   hazel   -   eyed   brunette   and   her   pouty   lips   means   spencer   is    drinking   for   TWO   tonight   .   the   person   in   front   of   her   is   being   LIGHT   -   HEARTED   .   maybe   it   is   friendly   and   maybe   it   is   flirty   ,   but   spencer   can’t   see   past   the   fact   that   it   is   getting   in   the   way   of   the   drink   they   offer   her   .   perhaps   to   honor   the   girl   she’s   missing   ,   perhaps   because   her   serotonin   levels   are   TEETERING   ,   spencer   grabs   the   person   with   cat   -   like   reflexes   reminiscent   of   the   black   cat   -   eye   she   sports   with   her   SIGNATURE   red   lip   so   that   their   free   hand   is   in   hers   and   behind   their   back   in   seconds   .   it   might   be   UNCOMFORTABLE   for   them   at   most   ,   but   it   doesn’t   hurt   .   sure   ,   hurt   people   hurt   people   ,   but   for   all   intent   and   purposes   ,   spencer   isn’t   hurt   .   or   so   she   tells   herself   .      “   don’t   mess   with   me   ,   i’m   NOT   in   the   mood   .   just   pour   the   drink   .   ”   //   @gallagherstart​

    THE GIRL SWORE under her breath as she watched a tense situation nearly reach its breaking point. Everyone here was dealing with something emotionally because of the events that unfolded these past few weeks. This picnic’s entire purpose was meant to help them unwind and relax. Not appear SECOND’S away from breaking someone’s arm. “What the hell are you doing?” Mimi said furiously as she approached Spencer. “Let them go, are you trying to expose us GENIUS?”

Maia all but skipped up to Mimi’s side, smiling at her friend and holding out a drink that she had made her. She herself was feeling all of the alcohol that she had already ingested; she wanted Mimi to be at her level, or at least closer to how she was feeling. “Where’s Alec?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is he off with that large Russian guy? He’s absolutely terrifying, if you ask me.” // @mimisxkai​

    BEING HANDED A drink was exactly what Mimi needed right now. “You’re a saint,” she praised her friend as she accepted it greedily. But it was hard to take a sip and enjoy when Maia’s drunk ramblings were too hard not to indulge in. “Um, probably. You know boys and their bromances,” she waved it off with a laugh before gripping her friend’s arm. “How drunk are you right now, crazy?”

            “ STOP,  it literally doesn’t even matter, “   she shakes her head, trying to satiate the monster she created with her own words.   “ i get it, it’s on me for randomly KISSING her.  we’re not…  talking right now, anyway.  so there’s nothing to worry about. “   but kass is still holding out hope that they’ll be fine, because she told claire they would be, so she doesn’t want artie doing anything to ruin it – even if her cousin’s words make her realize she’s angrier than she initially realized.

    “YOU’RE HURT, OF course, it matters,” she protested. Mimi didn’t understand why Kass wouldn’t let herself be rightfully sad. There was always a reason NOT to be, something that was always her fault, even when it wasn’t. “Kass you kissed her because you LIKE her...that’s not a crime last time I checked. So why are you being treated like the v i l l a i n in this situation?”

    THE GIRL NEEDED a break, a moment of recklessness. She found it in a familiar face. “Hey,” she approached Jake with a small smile. “I need someone to do a round of s h o t s with me. You game?”

starter for @mimisxkai​

– CLAIRE HADN’T INTENDED TO COME TO THIS, BUT – francis somehow got it in his head that it might be nice to go as a date ? and she’d complied because she half feels guilty for being such a flake and…well, it was sort of sweet. it seemed like the whole festival was wrought with couples anyway, so it’s weird to see mimi standing ALONE. seeing mimi reminds her that she might owe alec a bit of an…apology. she clears her throat. 

“ hey…mimi, right ? ” kass’ cousin. “ have you seen alec ? ” 

    WAITING FOR ALEC to arrive, who was more than the ten minutes late that he promised, left Mimi to her lonesome at this picnic. It was kind of hard being left to her thoughts, surrounded by couples and people who were happy while she was...less than. For some reason. And being approached by the girl who left the one person she loved most in the world distraught wasn’t exactly helping her situation. “Nope,” Mimi muttered as her gaze cast downwards. Suddenly it was her mission in life to keep Alec busy for the rest of the day. “Why? What do you want from him?”

He was going to enjoy the day. At least that was the mantra that Alec kept repeating to himself as he laid on the picnic blanket with Mimi by his side, cherry blossoms all around them and the spring sun warming his face. He wasn’t going to worry, too much, about what could happen, or about what he couldn’t control. No one was going to get murdered at this party (though he was keeping a subtle but careful on Allie as precaution). He took his girlfriend’s hand in his and place a light kiss to the back of it before turning to her with a smile. “So we’re done with the selfies right?” he asked her, half-joking and half-serious. They may have taken about a thousand pictures by his count but for her he had done it without complaint. 

@mimisxkai​

    PERHAPS SHE HAD taken his comment to heart a little too much but Mimi threw her phone down with a huff. Irritation and...frustration was clouding her common sense as of late, and while Mimi hoped being outside and amongst the beauty of the cherry blossoms would help, it only amped it up. Making her feel UGLY amongst perfection. “Maye if your more than perfect face didn’t look like it got into a catfight recently then I wouldn’t have to struggle to find the perfect angle,” she snarkily replied, saccharine filling her voice and the following smile.  

landon: bro idc what you, or disney channel, say

landon: but "i don't dance" with chad & ryan EXUDES Gay Energy

landon: and WHY DID THEIR OUTFITS CHANGE??

landon: i just ... have so many questions

mimi: chad and ryan got married after college

mimi: no u cannot prove me wrong

mimi: also

@gallagherstart​  :    ‘  no  mom  ,   i  definitely  went  to  bed  at  a  recent  time  last  night  -  ’    the  lie  easily  escapes  her  lips  as  she  sits  in  front  of  her  laptop  ,   it  being  8AM  and  she’s  sitting  in  the  dining  hall  with  an  untouched  pile  of  pancakes  and  milk  to  her  left  side  .   perhaps  her  insomnia  is  getting  worse  …  because  most  certainly  did  not  sleep  last  night  .    ‘  gotta  go  ,   love  you !  ’   she’ll  see  the  other  approach  her  table  ,   hangs  up  .   her  screen ?  shows  all  of  her  playlists  as  renamed  and  in  folders  .   next ?  fancy  letters  .    ‘  morning !  ’   valeria  chirps  ,   uncharacteristically  cherry  as  the  sun  is  rising  .     ‘  don’t  think  i’ve  ever  seen  you  so  early  in  the  day  .  ’   yeah  val  ,   because  you’re  never  up  this  early  .  

                  there was a reason he kept to himself , there was no use in getting to know others if he was being honest.  there was no way he could form true bonds with anyone , maybe only out of necessity.  he’d have to be civil because of his sister , they were roommates after all.  he paused slightly at her question , “ you think we’re friends ? “ it didn’t come off as rude  , or anything of the sort just confused.  “ there’s not much to know about me , nothing interesting anyway. “  nothing he could tell her anyway , it was simpler that way.  “ we’re still young , i wouldn’t rule it out. “

                 “ I DIDN’T MEAN TO, “  she insists, fingers running through her hair.   “ she wanted to know why i’ve been acting so weird, and i didn’t know how to physically TELL HER that i’m, you know, a little in love with her.  so i just… tried to show her. “   yes, she’s aware how stupid it sounds.   “ it went about as well as you’d expect, “   kass sighs.  “ and i didn’t… EXPECT anything from it, of course. but she basically told me my feelings weren’t valid because i’m in love with half the school. which ISN’T true ! “

    THERE WAS TOO much information at o n c e. Mimi's hands found their way to her scalp, she was moments away from physically yanking her hair from her skull. But it wasn’t out of anger at Kass, she could never be this angry at her cousin. It was pure FURY at the people at this school who constantly took advantage of her compassion and inability to stand up for herself. Kass forgave and forgave and forgave and only let people take and take and take until there was NOTHING left. And how many more heartbreaks would it take for her to learn? As much as she wished for good out of others, unfortunately, the world is only filled with assholes. “I’m going to kill her,” Mimi said darkly. “I am actually going to strangle her with my BARE hands and we’re going to clean it up afterward so nobody will find out. Hell ─ ask Val to help too, might as well make this a f a m i l y occasion.”

Alec wasn’t used to people worrying about him; he felt like usually he was the one worrying, at least the one that watched out for the people in his life. He didn’t want to give Mimi any reason to worry but he had to admit that it was nice to know that she did. “This is enough. Really it is,” he told her. Just being with her and talking through it and being to hold her close and focus on the present was all the help that Alec needed from her. But he was silent for a few moments as he processed what she said next. Could he just be Alec? Could he really separate himself from his family and their legacy? He wasn’t entirely sure who he was or what he could be without it. There had been a path laid out for him since the moment that he had been born, and aside from his army years he hadn’t strayed from it. Alec didn’t even know if he would but here he was Mimi telling him he could if he wanted to, that he could just be himself which he wanted to believe that she liked him for. So instead of saying anything else, because he couldn’t find the words, Alec’s response was leaning down and kissing her soft and slow and deep.

    AND SHE BELIEVED him. Alec was a man of simple pleasures; Mimi never felt like she had to jump through a surplus of hoops while being with him and she was grateful for that. There was a lot on the shoulders of people like him and Mimi, a lot of expectations and a legacy to live up to. Sometimes the thought of just being with someone else like them was forced upon them. But she wanted him to know at that moment that she fell for the guy who showed up on a blind date in an awkward tux, looking for a companion in a world where he felt most alone. Like her. Not because of his name or background or what he could promise her for the future. She’d like to think he felt the same. His sudden but passion-filled kiss let her think he did, and she responded with just as much intensity. Her lips molded against his, tongue brushing against his slightly. Mimi didn’t know how she found herself more onto his lap than she was before, but suddenly he everywhere and every sense was just consumed with ALEC. “Does this mean you’re...feeling better?” She asked breathily after a moment, pulling back from slight dizziness that had n o t h i n g to do with lack of oxygen.

Sage grabbed the bottle and decided to take a long swig straight from it. It was way faster than pouring it in a glass and do the whole decent thing. She was far too drunk for that at this point. She put it down next to her, laughing uncontrollably at the story Mimi had just told her. Sage passed the bottle to her friend and just sighed. “Alright, you told a truth. I’ll choose a truth too. Just so we’re even. Shoot.”

    MIMI NODDED HER head, though she was sure it came off more sluggish than she intended. It took her a moment before she finally came up with something good, and Mimi turned to the blonde with devilish intent in her gaze. “Okay...” she hummed. “Worst hook up experience, and I mean WORST. You can’t bullshit the details either.”