Somebody

"I've always said, who needs Raya when you can simply attend a Rosewood function?" Yves joked, as he looked over the commotion in front of him. "See, you've got actual pop stars convening right over there. Oh, and there's a movie star, drinking a whole bottle of tequila alone." He pointed at the aforementioned people. "not to mention, several nepo babies throwing themselves off of the diving boards."

"Who's Raya?" Cory raised a brow before taking another swig from his drink, his eyes trailing from person to person as Yves pointed them out. "Are you like a blogger or one of those people who write up on all the gossip happening around town? Or are you just watching for fun?"

"Yeah, I guess if this was one of those perfect worlds I would be on a beach chilling after winning my third Oscar by now. And you'd be? Still here. living the dream, huh?" She smiled sincerely as she watched him work. "You know my motto. I'm not here for a long time, i'm here for a good time. I'm just at the mercy of destiny. Why fight it?" She scrunched her nose in amusement, crossing her arms when they came face to face again. "Yeah. I guess I just feel like fighting for the things you really want feel more rewarding in the end. What's the fun in having everything handed to you? Then there wouldn't really be a point to doing anything." She shrugged. "Nah, i'm good. You just caught me while i'm in the middle of my journey to self discovery is all. I will take a cold drink since you offered so generously."

"You don't think you would've come back?" Cory's eyebrow shot up curiously. It had been years since she'd given him any meaningful details on her life but he'd always known about her issues with her mom. Their relationship was rocky but he'd always thought that at some point they would work things out and she would be the reason Harper wanted to come back to Rosewood even after she had the world at her fingertips. "Yeah, you're right. Fighting for what you want definitely makes it feel different. But I think once you get to the point of having things handed to you you're allowed to enjoy it. I don't want to fight just for the sake of fighting." He'd never been much of a fighter to begin with but that wasn't something he had to explain to her. "Well if there's anything I can do to help you avoid a midlife crisis just let me know. Do you want to go with or I can bring it back here if you want to wait?"

"Do you really want a third wheel in the way when you guys get all mushy? Or do you just want a witness around for when you inevitably piss Autumn off?" Hollie cocked a brow curiously, as she grabbed a bag of chips off the table to pop one into her mouth, finding no problem in mooching off him and her sister. "I was considering trying to be social. Maybe try to make some connections outside of my own little bubble unlike some people." She narrowed her eyes at him. "You do have friends outside of my sister, don't you?" She pursed her lips as she thought about her options. "Is it one of those speak now or forever hold your peace offers?"

"The fact that you think we're going to get all mushy says a lot about how well you think your sister is going to take all this. But if-when I piss her off I don't need witnesses. We both know she'll take the first opportunity she has to bail to a motel so I figured someone else should get to enjoy this besides me." Spencer glanced around the camper, surprised at how much he was enjoying the idea so far. They had everything everyone who loved camping always raved about but none of the bugs and overall shitiness of it. "Unlike you, I like my bubble. It's nice. I would tell you you should work on yours a little more but I think you just implied that we're not friends so..." Spencer's voice trailed off before he reached out to snag the chips from her. "No you can think on it. But remember I don't feed people who aren't my friends. You can't mooch if you aren't willing to admit you love me."

"I don't know about that, you were looking a little too nice up there." Afra mumbled, clearly not having any filter because of the mix of weed and alcohol in her system. "Hm, I'm seeing PinkPantheress, Joji, Young Miko and Tinashe. I really want to catch Sabrina Carpenter and Chapell Roan, too. Are you gonna be stuck here all weekend?" She smiled widely, tilting her head to the side. "So make the most of it." Afra shook her head right after that. "Ah, okay. So you're just trying to get me to pull all the weight here." She had no plans of ever touring in any bus ever, not even if it meant spending all that time with Cory. "A bunk? Be ready to share whatever bed you have. I know I always say I don't live up to people's expectations for the Chadwell's, but I am a little high maintenance when it comes to sleeping arrangements and other things."

"What does that even mean?" Cory subconsciously glanced down at his shirt. "Well if there's anything I can help you get just let me know. What's the point of being friends with someone who plays if they can't get you decent backstage perks, right? No. I just finished up with everything I need to do so I'm free to roam and do whatever." There were a few shows he wanted to check out but the majority of them weren't hitting the stage until the following day so Cory was more than happy to trail along with her if she wanted him to. He could definitely think of worse things than spending time with her. "Be real. I wouldn't be able to get you away from Rosewood long enough to even enjoy a tour bus. If I thought that was even possible I would've offered by now, and I would've given you the whole bed as an extra incentive. It's probably a good thing though. If you weren't here I wouldn't come back nearly as much."

"Wow. A real life rockstar coming to my rescue? Is my life turning into one of those weird Wattpad stories they keep turning into movies?" Harper joked when she looked over to see Cory of all people coming to help her. Not that is wasn't something she wouldn't have expected from him since he did have a good heart and all that. She just figured after all their awkward history he would run the other way at the sight of her by now. "Well, I don't think it can get any better than what's here. I do trust your survival instincts just slightly over my own." She said with a chuckle. "A hotel is my last resort. I'm trying to get the real Rosechella experience. Do you really experience anything without some kind of struggle?"

"If it was I would probably know what I'm doing, but I don't think I've ever set up a tent before. So sorry for not living up to the fantasy." Cory laughed under his breath as he finished hammering in the last stake. "I'm not surprised. If I remember right, self preservation has never really been your thing." His voice was teasing as he straightened up again. "Uh, yeah. I know about a dozen people who are perfectly happy taking the easy way out and loving every second of it. Should I be worried for you? If you've spent too much time in the sun just let me know and I can grab some water or something. I would offer to let you take a break in a trailer with air conditioning but that might be too easy for you."

"Right, okay. So what I'm getting from this if that I have been a little too nice to you this whole time. I'll have you know I am extremely picky about who I see at these events." Afra snickered, rolling her eyes fondly at him. Sure, he was right, Afra knew exactly how to deliver her message without coming off as a bitch. But she was also extremely picky when it came to the music she listened to and the artists that she collaborated with. She was kind of biased when it came to Cory because he was special to her in more ways than one, even if she hadn't found a way to let him know it yet. She watched his reaction to her comment intently, a small smirk showing up on her lips before she placed her hands on his shoulders gently. "I was joking. I mean, sure, he's a really great drummer. I mean, he isn't me or anything. But I came to see you and you're ruining the moment by making me spell it out for you, so relax."

"I don't know if there's such a thing as too nice. Should I ask who else is making the cut? Right now I'm mostly living this out through you so I'm ready for all the details." Cory's shoulders sagged but it had more to do with her words than the weight of her hands. "Good. I didn't want to share your attention with anyone else. I'm working with limited time so... I should probably make the most of it.." He cleared his throat, almost immediately averting his gaze from hers as he looked over her shoulder. "Hey, did you ever think that maybe I like having you spell things out for me? It usually makes my life a lot easier. But I'll keep that in mind and if I ever need a new drummer I'm prepared to come begging. And I'll make sure you get a decent bunk on tour. That's my gift to you."

"A little help here?" Harper hollered out to whoever was around, holding down one of the legs of the canopy she had set up over her camping spot, clearly trying to keep it from flying away in the wind. "I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to try camping for the first time at a music festival. You think it's still too late to put money down on one of those luxury tents?"

Cory would've made an attempt to help even if it hadn't been Harper asking for it, but watching her struggle did cause the corners of his mouth to quirk up a bit. "Yeah, sure. You got it." He nodded quickly as he moved into place to help out by hammering a few stakes into place. It wasn't much but he doubted he knew any more than she did when it came to camping and what the hell they were supposed to be doing. "Uh, probably. But you can still probably get decent room at a hotel if this blows over in the middle of the night, which it totally could. I can't make any guarantees here."

"Hey, watch it." Afra smacked his shoulder playfully when he was close enough, hugging him gently right after. "I'll have you know I am incredibly hard to impress, you'd know this if you realized that I am not lying to you everytime I try to compliment you." She knew how shy Cory could be sometimes, which was kind of endearing in a lot of ways, quite strange in other ways giving his successful career. "I've watched so many bands already, decided to stop by yours for a little. To catch a glimpse of your drummer, of course, I barely even noticed you were on the stage as well."

"I don't think you're lying, I just think you're sweet. You're nice. You've always been nice, so even if you saw something you hated I'm sure you would find something decent to say about it instead of ripping it to shreds. Or maybe I've just been watching you with rose tinted glasses or whatever the friend version of that it." He shrugged one of his shoulders before shoving his hands in his pockets. She had to know he adored her. He thought he'd done a decent enough job of making that clear. Cory's eyebrows furrowed but once he realized he was making a face he forced himself to stop. "Right. Right, you came to see the drummer. I can- I'm not a great wingman or anything so I can't actually do much, but I can introduce you if I have to. If you want me to, I mean. He's... he's okay."

“Wait where is this going?” Gemma just wanted to ask the guy where he got his tiny little microphone from and, instead, found herself the semi unwilling participant of an influencer video. She had trouble saying no though, that was on her, and with every question he asked she realized it was the kind of viral video edited down to make her look stupid. “Um. Okay,” she mumbled as she walked away. “What the fuck just happened?”

Cory hung back as he watched the interview unfold, happy to stay hidden among the crowd and avoid whatever was happening with the girl in front of him until the influencer moved on in search of their next victim. "I think it was the start of your rise to internet fame. Maybe. Or you might become a meme. There's really no telling at this point."

In hindsight, Afra should've known better than to get high right before Cory's performance. She was way more open when she smoked, which wasn't ideal for whatever she and Cory kept playing at. Because now she was excited to see him get off that stage, so excited he would be able to notice just by looking at the dumb smile on her face as she waited for him backstage, one of her connections being able to give her staff passes for her and some of her friends. "Wow, you do all that. And then insist on telling em that you're not a big deal? Either you're in denial or you're gaslighting me. So which one is it?" @presleymorales

Performing in Rosewood always felt different from being anywhere else. It wasn't that Cory still considered the place home but it had been once. It was where he'd started, and going back to it always reminded him of just how far he'd come. It made him more proud of himself than he ever typically felt and it showed throughout the night. Spotting Afra backstage was enough to make him practically beam as he smiled. "This might've been a little bit better than usual. But from the look on your face I don't think it would take much to blow you away right now." He shook his head, stepping close enough to offer her a one armed hug. "Please tell me you watched someone else tonight."

"Do you know what perfection is? The soundtrack for this very silly and strange movie." Afra scoffed as she paused the second movie in the Transformers franchise. "It genuinely annoys me. Do you think Megan Fox makes it a part of her contract that her movies must have amazing songs in it?" Okay, maybe she shouldn't have had that edible right before inviting Cory over. She was clearly not at her best at the moment. "I'm sorry for making you watch this movie, by the way." @presleymorales

"I think I've been looking at it for the better part of twenty minutes." Cory mumbled, keeping his eyes on the screen even after she'd paused the movie. "What I wouldn't give to be Shia Labeouf. Maybe I should get a motorcycle. Just for like... like, the visuals of it all." He motioned towards the screen with his hand before he cleared his throat. She hadn't invited him over to watch him thirst after someone. "Don't be. I've never seen it before and I'm weirdly entertained by robots who can turn into cars. I'm going to have to try harder to focus on the music though, which is like a first for me, but I'm ready for you to go full teacher mode."

Afra arched an eyebrow as he began talking, definitely not expecting him to actually explain so much of his past. She hadn't even tried to ask him about it, despite how often they talked and the many topics that they touched, the people they were saying or past relationships had never really been one of those things. Like Cory had said, they were friends because they just understood each other. "Wow." She nodded slowly. "So, how did that end up? I mean, clearly you're not with either of them now...and I'd like to say that you're holding up okay now. But what happened to them?" She asked curiously, figuring that asking him for more details would probably be harder to talk about. It seemed like he regretted it anyway, and who was she to even ask about all of it anyway. She smirked when she realized how much she had surprised him, but didn't elaborate. Instead looked up at the road, biting down on her bottom lip to avoid smiling. "It sounds like you need to figure that out, actually."

"After a few questionable choices on my end, and a vote being public that I thought was private, everything turned out okay. They're both happily dating other people. Or at least they were the last time I talked with them." He shrugged one of his shoulders after a few seconds, wondering if he should do more to keep up with them. Honestly he'd figured they probably wouldn't want him to. Who wanted their ex, especially an ex who hadn't ended things on the best of terms, hanging around asking questions? He didn't really deserve to. Cory watched her curiously, his gaze scanning along her face before he slowly nodded. He needed to follow her lead and focus on the road to start driving. "Right. Giving me the easy answers wouldn't mean as much. St. Elmo's it is. And maybe I'll let you con me into going to a party with you."

See, that right there was exactly why sometimes Afra felt like it was impossible to read Cory. Because she could tell herself that he was just a gentleman, or that they just had all this chemistry, but he said things like that, so earnestly and so intensely that it made her wonder exactly what they were for each other. They were definitely best friends, that wasn't a lie. "Really? No boundaries? I don't know if that's healthy. There have to be things that you haven't told me about because you don't want to. Like, that one time you weren't a perfect gentleman and ruined a date or something. I refuse to believe you don't have any baggage." She joked as she followed his lead and climbed into his car. She rolled her eyes playfully at him though. "Now, taste is not something that people can judge Chadwell's on. You're not going to be the exception." Afra tilted her head to look back at him before she leaned over the console and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, by the way." She murmured as she leaned back and began strapping her seatbelt.

"Okay, I'm not helping you hide a body or anything but other than that I'm pretty open. And I haven't told you about that because I like for you to think I'm the perfect gentleman. Long story short I dated a girl for a long time and I told her I wanted to take a break for a really stupid reason. But during the break I started dating someone else without really saying anything and I thought I fell in love. But one day it hit me that- it's hard to explain. I guess after a few years I realized I'd never cared about anyone as much as I cared about that first girl and I wasn't over it. So I broke things off and tried to get her back when she was already in a relationship and it didn't work. So my baggage is probably that I hurt a lot of people who really didn't deserve it by being stupid and careless." He shook his head, knowing there was more to it than that but it wasn't the time or place to get into that conversation. "Love the confidence." The press of her lips to his skin instantly had his cheeks flaring red as he turned to look at her. "I'm not sure what I did but I'll take it." His gazed dropped briefly from her eyes to her lips before he forced himself to look up again, clearing his throat for good measure. "Remind me to do whatever it was more often."

"That's deep." Afra smiled as he opened the door for her, stoppng when she felt his hand wrap around her wrist. They didn't have these serious conversations often, unless they were making music and connecting about it, Cory and her mostly kept to their usual jabs at each other. He probably knew more about her than most people knew though, given how often they talked. She couldn't think of a day when they hadn't texted at least once since they met. In fact, for a moment, Afra had thought that he had been flirting with her. Instead, he had become one of her closest friends though, and she did like it. It was these sort of conversations that sometimes made her wonder what exactly they were to each other. "I like hearing you talk, especially when I smoke. It kind of grounds me in a way." Afra admitted with a small smirk on her face, shoving him playfully after he knocked his knee against hers. "I don't ever hold anything back, by the way. I just...don't know what to ask sometimes, I guess. You are important to me, Cory and I know you have boundaries and I probably am not as good a communicator as you are, so I tend to wait." She reached over to give his hand a soft squeeze and then gasped. "Oh, I'm about to change your life. Root beer sucks, never compare it to cream soda again, please."

The corners of his mouth quirked into a small smirk but Cory resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her. Maybe it was a little corny but it was the truth. He'd opened up to her in ways he hadn't with anyone else in years, something that made it obvious just how lonely he'd been before she'd come along. "That was deep," he mocked, placing his free hand over his chest while using the other to slowly run his thumb along the inside of her wrist before she shoved him. "Okay, okay. Good. I'm glad neither of us is holding anything back even though we're both emotionally stunted. It's a miracle really. And I care about you too. A lot. I meant it when I said you're my best friend and I... you're just really important to me. For the record, I don't have any boundaries that you could cross that I would be mad at." His smile softened before he nodded, quickly making his way around the car to slip inside. If she wanted St. Elmo's he couldn't stand around staring at her like most logical thought had left his mind. He had to move and focus on something other than her face or how nice it felt when she touched him. "Right. Sorry. I'm prepared to be amazed, and if I'm not then I'll have a good reason to judge your taste for the next few months."