ALWAYS ASCENDING !

she’s  past  the  point  of  crying .   she  has  been  for  quite  some  time  now .   his  words ,   despite  the  emotions ,   mean  nothing  to  her .   ever  since  the  news  broke ,   she  hasn’t  really  said  much ,   strange  for  someone  who’s  constantly  talking .   for  the  first  time  since  he’s  come  home ,   she  looks  at  him .   even  then ,   her  stare  is  empty ,   as  if  she’s  looking  through  him .   “   i  need  some  time  away .   ”   from  you .   her  voice  is  soft  but  it  doesn’t  tremble  over  the  words  she’s  replayed  in  her  head  thousands  of  times .   going  off - script ,   though ,   her  tone  wavers .   “   i   …   i  have  to  go.   ”

   that was surely not bernard’s intended reaction - & it shows by how he    visibly cringes at his misstep.  ❝ i know, it’s … gonna be hard for a while. ❞    a solemn nod of his head, daring himself to take another sip of his own    drink.  ❝ but she was no good - not for you. it hurts now, but in the future,    you’ll see. you’ll be thankful. ❞  also probably not as helpful as he intended,    so bernard will add : ❝ i’m here for you the whole journey, man. ❞

@paperrcages  — * liked for a starter.

Taking a bite of something, the journalist’s features had contorted. Whatever this was that he had just given her was super TART . “ Christ…” Saying only after the thought of swallowing left her no choice but to. “ What the hell did I just sample ? “ Gloves over her hands she removed them and stuck them into her large dark green pea coat. Grabbing out her water she kept in her bag and desperately drinking from it. Going back and forth between America and England all her life was quite impression. Then again her father was a music producer and worked out of London. Which is where she was staying. 

Why ever buy a house or a flat ? Often finding herself in the guest room of her parents’ respective homes. Then in New York City to crash on her brother’s couch. It was quite the life she lived it would seem. Now she’d been hanging out with him, Eli Chapman. In a bakery, a few bodyguards outside. Dark eyes focusing now on the display case. “ Hmmm…” Her favorite English treat would have to be a cinnamon sugar scone. Then it got her thinking about her favorite American treat. “ Have you ever had a custard filled doughnut ? “ Looking around some. “ Also, do these guys ever like…leave you alone ? “ 

            It’s an effort not to laugh as Eli mulls it over. Perhaps Ben should feel a little guilty about this, especially if he did end up dragging some poor girl over once they were out. But a tenner was a tenner, and this beat studying.   “   Did you just indirectly call me a nerd? Stereotype much. Maybe I like someone a bit… rougher.   ”

           Ten pounds! Not even a fiver. Ben hides his smile as best he can, trying to look serious about the whole thing. Which, he kind of was. An extra tenner meant he could get something other than shitty Richmond Superkings.   “   Swooning works both ways, mate. What do you think my type even is?   ”

            Jostled, Ben gives Eli some side-eye before finally putting his book down. It didn’t seem likely he’d be given a chance to focus on it in peace again. Plus, it was always interesting to see how far he could push the straight thing. Mingle behind enemy lines. “   I don’t know about that. I never have any luck with girls.   ”

   ❝ let me tell you something - ❞  bernard is rarely ever completely honest.    he’s always been a big believer in true honesty being bad for relationships.    his glass is raised,  ❝ i never liked them anyways. they were bad for you. ❞    it’s like a relief to admit - & bernard even dares to offer a half smile.  ❝ you’re    better off without them, guaranteed. ❞

       IT’D BEEN QUITE A WHILE   since  scott’s  last  encounter  with  eli  despite  the  occasional  phone  call  -  but  seeing  someone  in  person  was  always  so  much  more  securing.  as  they  sat  down  beneath  the  barlight,  scott  relearned  eli’s  facial  features  through  a  vague  interested  gaze.  he  smiled  slightly,  assured  that  a  musician’s  tour  tales  would  bear  no  lack  of  hilarity  or  absurdity.    ❛❛  good  to  see  you  again,  man.  i’ve  got  all  the  time  in  the  world  tonight,  so  i’m  all  ears.  what’s  been  up ?  ❜❜

            Ben could only really function on all work. In the past, all play had led to the delights of a stomach pump. He’s almost tempted, though. Until that statement. He looks up from his book, frowning over his glasses. Why did it never sound like the girls had a choice?  “   Nice try. But sorority girls aren’t my type.   ”  Whatever that meant…

         “   Do you ever give your liver a break?   ”   It’s a moody response. Hypocritical, too, as Ben wouldn’t have to be trying to get through his reading so quickly if he’d gone out a bit less.   “   I’d like not be a dropout.   ”