a r t e m i s.

MONIQUE LANCHESTER : : THE SAINT

“Because I love you I didn’t hear that.” Another nose bop before she returned Monique some space, arm falling to loop around their frame. Martina leaned her head on their shoulder. “Well, that’s just hurtful.” And it did hurt her feelings, a little, like a paper-cut. “Yeah, legacy, Triple Threat, I get it.” She made a face. “But what about me?” They weren’t talking about the farewell speech anymore. When your life and the lives of other near and dear revolved around you, you’re aware of any shifts, and Martina wasn’t ready to give up being the centermost point. She reached limply for the other shot glass, but it’s closer to Monique and she didn’t feel like giving up her cozy headrest. “Can you get that? It’s so far awayyyyy.”

“  i  get  it,  ”  charlie  shrugs,  nodding  his  head.  at  least  he  thinks  he  understands.  “  change  is  scary,  and  it  bloody  sucks  most  of  the  time.  but  i  dunno.  ”  there’s  a  shift  in  his  tone,  expression  perking  back  up.  he  cant  help  but  feel  optimistic  for  monique  —  he’s  always  seen  them  as  strong,  as  smart.  someone  who’s  meant  to  make  it.  “  you’re  monique  …  you’re  great.  surely  you’ve  got  plenty  of  job  offers  and  plans  waiting  for  you  after  tomorrow.  ”

“I heard it was special for one of her favorite students.” He doesn’t know if that’s actually the truth or not, maybe one of her daughters had suggested it but that felt more doubtful. His eyes haven’t left them since he looked up, they’ve always looked great, ethereal tonight. “Did you have fun?” A lame question but he cares about the answer, he wishes they understood he cares about all of the answers. 

He’d made an appearance just the way that he had wanted to and as soon as it felt like everyone was busy enough with someone else, he managed to sneak out. At first he was too busy with his own thoughts to realize that there was anyone else in the hallway with him but once he realized it seemed absurd to not have immediately acknowledged them. Heels or no heels, he felt as if he could recognize the sound of them walking anywhere. The sight of them a welcome one even if he knew things weren’t on good terms at all between them. That didn’t mean that the sight of Monique would ever stop being a mesmerizing one. “No point in staying if Beyonce has finished her set.” Owen’s attempt at a joke but also, like, the truth. 

He knows there’s more that he should say, more that he actually does want to say. Especially where Monique is concerned. Monique who he had gone to Cole to talk about. Who had played in his head over and over again as if they were the sweetest lullaby soft melodies could ever invent. “I…” Owen sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. Mostly he doesn’t want to be having this discussion with them here but making a spectacle in the middle of the library sort of seems like the perfect thing for the two of them. “I have feelings for you as well.” His tone is quieter, if he had ever dreamed of telling them it wouldn’t have been this way. “I should have said that sooner, before any of this, maybe if I had none of this would have even happened.” Everyone wants him to take it back but he can’t. The actions are done, there’s no turning them back. “I’m clearly not good enough to merit the way that you feel about me.” Especially now that he feels like the most terrible person on earth. At Gallagher, at least. There’d been too much he had messed up because of Cole and he’s afraid that now he’s only messing everything further with Monique. 

charlie  smiles  at  the  compliment,  and  there’s  something  about  monique  being  honest  with  him  that  makes  him  feel  good.  he  only  wishes  the  circumstances  were  better.  he  can’t  fully  understand  the  way  they’re  feeling,  since  he’s  still  a  year  away  from  his  own  graduation  …  but  charlie  can  imagine  how  he’d  feel  in  their  position,  and  he  thinks  he’d  share  a  similar  sentiment.  “  any  reason  why  ?  ”

She was trying her hardest not to fangirl right there and then. “Yeah, I am. Last year was--” She doesn’t have to finish that sentence, she doesn’t want to finish it. “I only came back because I heard that Beyoncé was performing but God! I didn’t know you were here either.” Monique couldn’t have been here last year, Harper would’ve known. “You’re a spy? Er, a spy in training?”

“..Right. Right, yes.” She’s feeling…very short today all of a sudden. “Oh, really? Thank you!” Stella looks down at her outfit shyly, hand on her skirt as she appreciates the compliment. “Gosh, I don’t remember off the top of my head. I ordered it online, Martina actually helped me pick it out.” Because of course Stella knows who Monique is, even if it’s not mutual. 

They raised at any eyebrow. “You know Martina?” Of course, Martina was friends with almost everyone here. “Sorry, I don’t know who you are.” 

“ hell yeah. it’ll give me some time to become cool, calm and collected. ” he holds out his sharpie. “ can you sign my suit? ”

“Why are you yelling!?” Martina whined loudly. Monique’s not yelling. “I’m emotional right now, okay!? And if they can’t tell we’re hungover? Are you gonna snitch?” She’s being extra bratty because she either has news to tell Monique or she’ll miss them next year. Can’t be sure which yet. Either way, Monique’s leaving her. “Take a shot with me!” She hooked an arm around their neck, smushing their cheeks together. “Or else I’ll stand on that table and embarrass you with an extra sappy farewell speech.” She bopped their nose. “And that is a threat.”

“That’s okay, I don’t know how you didn’t either,” he says, clicking his tongue like it’s some tragedy in Monique’s life. “But you do now. Name’s Levi,” he introduces himself with a lopsided grin. “Way more than decent.” He’s a fourth year DE major! He’s a great driver, thank you very much. “You want a drive around the track?”

“Don’t get too drunk,” they began. “Our parents will be here tomorrow and you already know how they’ll be if they see you and Trinity with a hangover.” Loud because black people stay!!! being!!! LOUD FOR NO DAMN REASON!!!!

        KASS HAS TO LOOK AWAY WHEN THEY ASK THAT, but she nods anyway, tucking some hair behind her ear.   “ yeah, of course. i mean, just because the way our friendship ended… it doesn’t mean i stopped caring, y’know ?   i’m just sorry i had been such a crappy friend to make you think otherwise. i definitely don’t blame you. ”   the way her and monique’s friendship ended is one of the few regrets kass has.   “ ah, yeah. her flight was delayed or something. ”   it doesn’t really matter now, but she does appreciate monique’s comment, smiling softly.   “ thank you. that means a lot, seriously. ”   kass lets out a laugh.   “ alright, fair enough. martina’s really sweet, though. she’s going to help me get a new wardrobe for my new job. ”

closed for @monilanchest·

“for you, from my mom,” yara says in greeting as she enters their shared room, climbing up to her top bunk before tossing an envelope to monique. “pretty sure it’s a letter and an invitation to the grad party she’s insisting on throwing.” leaning up on one elbow, she glances down at her friend, testing the waters. “i wanna ask how you are. with everything. but if you don’t wanna talk about personal stuff right away, i can go first. i slept with aidan.”

A smile as they picked up the envelope. “A grad party? You already know that I’ll be there.” If it was for Yara of course Monique will be there. They carefully began to open the letter because if Yara’s mother put in the time and effort to make this, then Monique will give the older woman the satisfaction of knowing that someone opened and appreciated the letter. They took a deep breath, not entirely ready to really talk but were willing to do so. Well, until Yara dropped the bomb about sleeping with Aidan. “Wait, you did?” they asked, eyes on their friend. They knew of him, he was related to Charlie so of course they knew him. They just didn’t know him know him. “When did this happen?”