it's  not  like  vienna  liked  or  enjoyed  straight  shots  of  tequila,  but  rather  didn't  see  the  reason  behind  drinking  some  fancy  drink  where  the  alcohol  will  take  time  to  affect  you.  she  wanted  to  get  drunk  and  fast,  which  is  why  she  opted  for  shots  more  often  than  not.  “  what's  wrong  with  tequila  shots  ?  ”  she  questions  the  other,  brows  furrow.  as  she  listens  to  the  other  ordering  their  drinks,  she  can't  help  her  rather  confused  face.  “  girl.  ”  she  says  with  a  shake  of  her  head.  “  this  might  be  the  most  complicated  order  of  alcohol  i've  ever  heard.  ” 

brow raises at the other femme, almost as questioning if there was a challenge being presented. “  what isn't wrong with tequila shots? they taste like acid, you actually need acid to even make it tolerable and as if i'd allow myself to bite into a piece of lemon carved out by a bartender who most likely hasn't washed their hands for the past hour.   ” dramatics, but also a sense of logic, a smile formulating as the two drinks were placed before the two of them. “  just trust me, okay? ” limes are placed beside them, chopped to perfection and in a safely-closed jar. “  my limes, i bring them each time i come and make sure they are secured.   ”

she  walks  in  after  the  knock,  stopping  next  to  the  door  to  shed  her  bags  and  scarf,  an  action  so  simple  yet  felt  so  familiar  and  casual  that  made  her  heart  that  much  heavier.  maddie  finally  turns  to  look  at  them  and  smiles  timidly  "  hey,  "  feet  stalk  towards  where  they  were  and  eyes  glance  down  at  the  food,  eyes  widen  ever  so  slightly  and  lips  tug  in  a  wider  smile  and  hand  come  up  to  lock  in  front  of  herself  "  and  i  will  not  be  starting  now  !  can't  believe  you  remembered  that.  thank  you,  that's  very  nice.  "  she  gazes  up  at  them,  a  glint  in  her  eyes  that  was  always  there  when  maddie  looked  at  him  "  really,  you  didn't  have  to  cook,  so  i  really  appreciate  the  thought.  "

“  i know i didn't have to, but i wanted to. besides, my mom would've kicked my ass if she found out i had you over around dinner time and didn't feed you.   ” they state with a soft grin, waiting for her to become more comfortable before the spoon in grasp is dropped lazily into the sink behind them. they move into the small dining room, waiting for her to join, steady hands pulling back one of the chairs for her, not moving until her body rested comfortably. own body finds itself in the chair across, fingers tapping quickly against the tabletop: anxiety tic. “  so uh, how was class?   ”

sloane  kept  the  straw  of  her  coffee  in  her  mouth  even  if  there  was  close  to  no  liquid  for  her  to  drink  anymore  in  her  cup.  "  guess  it’s  good  i  don't  have  to  think  about  dad's  gifts,  cause  what  the  hell  do  older  men  even  like  ?  "  she  chuckles,  hand  offering  comfort  to  dani's  shoulder  "  wait  he  got  everything  on  his  amazon  cart  ?  what  about  the  wishlist,  does  he  have  anything  on  his  wishlist  ?  "

optics glaze over, fixated on a spot on a floor tile that's scuffed as head slowly nods up and down, words still being acknowledged. “  older men don't like anything, or they do but it's something stupid like an add-on to the car they drive or wanting gift cards, and gift cards are so ... they lack connection. no one actually wants to open a single envelope on christmas.  ” finally looking towards sloane with a sigh. “  wishlist is emptied.   ”

viridian gaze matches theirs , legs folded beneath the table that separates them in a way of comfort that doesn't come so easily these days , arms folded over one another as femme leans forward . " c'mon on then , forrester . " brow raised , lips twisted in a half amused smile . " objectively , yes . with your choices in food , not so much ! "

“  okay well, you're gonna have to change that up because i ordered before you got here. ” boyish grin takes over features, a slight wrinkle of the nose as almost a cautionary measure as to how nora would react. “  but don't worry, i didn't ask for chocolate to be added to the bacon, and i did remember you saying you wanted french fries and ice cream, so i got creative with it.   ”

soft sweater stretches over cold fingertips as footsteps still . the rink was almost like a second home , her father practically lived and breathe the ice , being at michu was no different . " no , not called for . " sweet , pristine tone sweeps towards the other , turning as fingers tuck tightly into the back pockets of demin . " yeah , that would be me , please no rush ? coach called a dinner night , but he's stuck in the office and i thought the boys were down here , thought i'd come sneak a peak . " it's not an entire lie , she'd come down in search of a specific someone .

singular digit reaches up, pushing glasses further up nose to rest correctly instead of peaking above to capture the gaze of etta. shoulders begin to relax once the answer is provided, knowledge that she wasn't caught interrupting practice time by a prominent figure (aka. the coach's daughter). “  sorry to disappoint, it's just little ol' me. i think practice was earlier, there were a couple pucks on the ice when i came in.   ” she muses with a hum, a soft click at the end of her pen.

there's a chuckle that vibrates in throat, head shaking from side to side at the expression provided. part of him wants to reach out and gently massage the brows that are raised, another part yelling to remain platonic. his track record was evidence enough that she deserved better, but that didn't stunt optics from slowly peeking downwards towards her lips that are now in a perfected, beautiful smile. “  am i supposed to know what brat pack means?   ” another chuckle. “  alright, so we're aiming for two movies tonight? damn, aren't i lucky?   ”

a  grin  followed  by  a  light  chuckle  as  the  other  tells  her  about  how  he  was  aware  of  her  dozing  off.  "  have you  been  watching  me,  barsotti  ?  "  her  tone  is  slightly  teasing  as  she  rests  her  chin  on  her  plam,  doe  eyes  looking  at  lorenzo.  her  gaze  follows  his  move,  as  he  closes  her  books.  she  doesn't  even  stop  him.  instead,  a  part  of  her  is  just  simply  giving  into  him.  "  yeah,  don't  think  you'll  be  able  to  convince  me  so  easily.  i  need  to  study.  "  she  puts  her  hand  over  her  books,  but  doesn't  act  on  it  yet.

“  kinda hard not to when you're two seconds from faceplanting into your book.   ” he comments with ease, finger flexing against the outer edge of the book to inch it closed, smirking as it silently slams shut. body shifts to face her entirely, own head tilting at her remark, a grin slowly moving onto lips. “  i'm sure you're retaining a lot of information with your eyes half closed and mind inching towards dreamville, vi.   ” finger taps against the book cover. “  wouldn't kill you to admit i'm right.   ”

greyson was sat with a coffee and a muffin — chocolate chip, trying his best to ignore the couple arguing at a nearby table. it was safe to say that plan wasn’t going well, even the subtle background music wasn’t enough to drown them out. he looked around, scanning the room for any other patron to relate. as his gaze found someone, his eyes widened, lifting his coffee to his lips as the argument got louder. “ should we start taking bets ? iced coffee to the face ? donut ? this isn’t going to end well … ”

one to always push the limits on lateness, although somehow having the power to always be on time. bells ring upon entry, optics searching the coffee house to find his roommate and navigate the current status of those around. black coffee is secured, and it's not long before distaste is shown on features, body lowering into the seat across from greyson and brows lifted on features. “  jesus, how long they've been going at it?   ” prime example why he avoided relationships. public displays of affection were one thing ... public disagreements were down right embarrassing. “  hope it's the iced coffee, guy will regret it if she reaches for the hot drink.   ”

she's not stupid enough to believe that the simple : i'm sorry would fix everything , not when he'd forced it from her . though it was meant all the same . there was a reason she'd avoided him still . random run ins with half the team , some she knew , some she wasn't once so close to , and even the reason for her panicked disappearance . but there were two people she still couldn't face . noah was different , noah was . . . noah . but the two that remained , scared her more than anything , because while her heart was always securely in their friends hands , she had built something with elijah that ran deeper than what could be considered just friendship in the most platonic of ways . shoulders dip low , hands drop to the side , fingers tuck into her fabric of her skirt , brows furrowed . there was nothing she could say , and his words stab and twist in her chest . " i'm sorry . " she repeated .

he never enjoyed confrontation. an individual that ran in the opposite direction, avoidant of the consequences that may come from actions or having deep conversations that were necessary for development. he enjoyed the ease of things, rather than having to sit down, become bare and feel the negative emotions that would coarse through him. the visual of her across from him emphasizes his distaste in these conversations, internally beating himself for having the guts to begin the exchange, the confidence he had in the beginning already diminishing as the seconds pass. he should've let her leave, moved back to holding lola's hand and enjoy his evening. now, he had this hanging over his head, stuck remembering the abandonment that etched into cells at her disappearance. “  you're mentioned that, couple times now, actually.   ”