o. delane

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑: @odelaney·

          ayla’s rather GOOD at fending off advances — it’s something she prides herself in doing rather kindly, or at least with only malice implied. but owen seems to not get the message, not matter how many times it’s strongly implied, and ayla isn’t in the business of being openly negative, especially to those who haven’t really done anything to her ; maybe in the end it was simply pity that kept her from putting a permanent end to this ( though that might be what’s best for her sanity ).     “ owen — ”     the sun has slunk below the horizon, a beautiful sunset watercolored over the tops of the campus buildings, the kind that people hurry to pull out their phones to capture ; ayla’s never been the type to photograph sunsets though. a hand comes up to tuck a piece of hair back behind her ear, voice almost condescendingly patient,     “ — it’s not that late ; i know my own way back. i’m not going to get LOST. ”

-

If confidence really is key, than Owen has been missing out on a lot so far. He met Ayla in one of his gen ed classes he honestly considered never showing up to. But, now he’s glad he did. She was distractingly beautiful and surprisingly didn’t immediately laugh him out of the room when he struck up a conversation. She was one of those girls who he just felt natural around. It felt like the beginning of something...special. “Ayla—” he says and shakes his head with a laugh. They walk across the packed quad. “Campus is dangerous at—” he glances down at his wrist. “6:37...Plus I’m heading that way anyways.” He said tossing her a smile.

Owen applied for Quinby for one reason, and one reason only. Parties. And they can’t not invite you to the party if you’re living in the house they’re throwing it in. And by some grace of god, Kiernan Halliday opted rather to befriend him than, kick his ass. Which still truly confused Owen, hence why he was still a little weary around the other. It was only the pre-game and Owen was already feeling his 3rd beer. He knocks on Kiernan’s door hoping he’s not interrupting anything. “Um hey it’s Owen,” he yells from the other side of the door. “You wouldn’t happen to have a funnel would you?”

To those who knew him in freshman year, Owen sincerely apologies. Like those embarrassing thoughts you have right as you try to fall asleep, freshman year haunts Owen at every waking hour. Though there was one person who had to deal with the perils of 19 year old Owen nearly as much as he did and that’s Roo Carlson. Football captain, Mr.All American...and then there was Owen. Luckily for them they mostly missed one another but on those occasions when they met, it was always awkward...Mostly due to Owen. Though now he’s different, some random boost of self confidence allows him to treat everyone like they’re friends. Though that confidence ran short when he actually runs into Roo. God he needs to stop coming to billings. “Hey roomie,” he says with a haphazard smile. “I didn’t know you hung out here too,”

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑: @odelaney·

          he’s uncharacteristically ALONE : his company of one of his teammates hurried off to his next class, caz with plans to return to billings to get a small meal in before practice later, but loathe to move from the sunny patch the picnic table he occupies sit in. it doesn’t take LONG for him to wish he’d just gotten a move on, gaze rising from his phone as the wooden table shakes a bit under the weight of new unwelcomed company. they had to go through media training with the usntdp ; often vastly DREADED seminars every year, but deemed a necessary evil ( they were going places, after all ). caz probably had more experience than most with putting on a facade anyway, media smile impeccably practiced to the point it felt natural — his own father hadn’t been able to tell the difference, not that was really surprising either. he slips into it almost reflexively at this point when faced with situations he’d love nothing more than to walk the other direction.so he suppresses the very overwhelming urge to sigh, one of his milder media smiles flicking on, though his tone still betrays the smallest hint of ANNOYANCE,     “ — can i help you ?? ”

❆

Some best friends are made, others are found, Caz on the other hand...was NEITHER. To most Owen’s idea of friendship is heavily skewed, but in his defence he knows no better. The PERPETUAL loner was privy to clinging on to anyone who so much as knew his name. One of the many beauties of California was its weather, far strung from the BLEARY wetness of Portland, Halston was drenched in sunlight at every hour of the day. It wasn’t unusual to see the quad littered with students which is why he almost missed his best friend sitting alone at a picnic table (a feeling he knows all too well). He bounds over like a kid in a candy shop and drops himself in front of the other boy. Anyone wasn’t the wiser, would’ve thought Owen was some High School senior visiting his brother at College with the way in which Caz was nearly double his size. He beams back at his friend, ❝ Hey bud— you looked like you could use the company..❞ More so Owen could use the company but, he digresses. ❝ So what’s our plan for today? ❞

[  skyler gisondo  .  twenty-one  .  cis-male  .  he/him/his  ] just saw OWEN DREW DELANEY dragging their suitcase up the steps to QUINBY  .  good luck living with HIM ,  i hear that they’re GULLIBLE  ,  PUSHOVER  ,  JOVIAL  &  EMPATHETIC  .  makes sense they chose that house now  ,  doesn’t it  ?  let’s hope this new living situation doesn’t affect their JUNIOR  year of COMPUTER SCIENCE   [  mimi  .  twenty-2  .  she/her/hers  .  ast  ]

more under the cut!