✧ forever boy ✧

Before taking a peek at whoever it was that spoke to her, Emma scoffed, shaking her head to herself and then turned to look at the stranger beside her. Emma was going to scold whoever decided to interrupt her nap with theirs and in the process try make them move seats. “Here’s a suggestion – set a timer on your damn phone.” She grumbled, resting her head back into the palm of her hand, still not recognizing the stranger through the dark shades. 

Roman had already begun to close his eyes when a less-than-pleased voice rang in his ear. What prompted him to sit up, however, was the familiarity of the voice. “I don’t think I’m going to be needing an alarm,” Roman leaned forward and removed his sunglasses to get a better look at the blonde. “You’re enough of an awakening as it is, Emma Williams.” 

“Mate, are you for real?” Tyler asked, raising an eyebrow at his friend as he wished to nap. “If you pass out I can’t promise someone won’t draw on you, piss in your drink, hijack your twitter and Instagram, or ditch you”.

“What? Haven’t you ever taken a nap before?” Roman raised an eyebrow back at him. “Those all sound like awful and terrible things you would do, Tyler. Is this your way of foreshadowing what’s to come if I doze off?”

“Move a little to your left, it’s a better angle for me. How does somethin along the lines of ‘Christian: before he sleeps with officer richmond’s daughter.’ sound? I’ll snap you the after shot within the next 48 hours.

“I don’t think it’s possible to have a good angle while you’re in handcuffs. So the plot thickens. I’ll give you that -- and the Cheetos as promised. Is that how you’re planning on getting out of this situation? Just don’t send over any nudes, man.”

His head turned to the male that was approaching, eyes giving him a quick, observative once-over. The boy noted that he was tall– in shape, had good looks, and a more than nice watch on his wrist. It made him wonder why he was here, in the armpit of L.A. He always wondered why people of a middle to higher class decided to swoop down to the lower. They pitied them, he supposed– helped the lesser just to make themselves feel higher. Rafe drummed two fingers along the metal bar to a self-fabricated beat, listening to the other brunette, “I don’t.” He merely responded, eyes flicking over to him quickly before flashing away. His voice was groggy, probably from the handful Marlboros he’d smoked so far into the night, “No,” He responded, voice monotone, “Are you?” The male then asked in return, words clipped and short.

Roman could feel the other male’s stone gaze on him, slowly judging. Roman had a nice tan from Rio and was aware that the clothes he had been given were not from his own wallet. It felt odd that this had become the norm ever since the end of The Valleys. And it saddened him that he no longer fit in with the crowd that was currently downstairs, yet he never felt like he really belonged with the high end folks. “Alright, suit yourself,” Roman shrugged, tilting his head back to consume more of his beer. He couldn’t tell if the other brunette was annoyed with his conversation, he looked like a minefield and if Roman said the wrong words he was sure he would explode. “I am, usually.” His brows furrowed together, glancing back down at the scene. “But not tonight, no.” 

“ geez, sleepy ass. just go for a power nap, yeah.” grazia nodded, glaring at him playfully. “ twenty minutes is nothing, mister “i-went-to-rio”. yes, i am still salty about that and you can’t make it up to me.”

“oh thank you, i figured you’d say no.” roman smirked back at her. “hey-- if you’re pissed about that you can take things up with my mother. i’d be happy to connect you guys via facetime. c’mon, you can’t put me in the doghouse forever. i did make it back before your birthday didn’t i?”

The voice that rose up beside her caused Theo to lift her head, attention and gaze drifting to the male, brows raising. “Am I that much of a bore or have you simply no better place to sleep? -Because I can loan you twenty bucks if you really need a motel room to crash in; beats a bar stool, if you ask me.”

Roman shook his head immediately at the mention of a bore. “No, no. Definitely not you. I just flew in last night and well -- the Brazilian send-off is always a riot. Still nursing the hangover and jetlag, I suppose. You keep that twenty bucks. Might as well spend it on some drinks while you’re here.” 

Roman, c’mon, get up  -  Look at this place, it’s a bloody home store and you can’t nap on the bed - they’re for display only. No, look at this place - People can easily snap a photo and we’ve got nothing after being here like half an hour, c’mon - We’ve to check out beds for real. Say.. what’s the mattress like on that one? I like the black pine. 

I think that’s the whole point of the bed, Laura -- don’t you hear it calling your name? It sure as hell is calling mine. If you want me to be your bed tester then isn’t it a winner if it’s suitable for a nap? You can handle the paps, you’re Laura Ryan, aren’t you? -- Let’s find out. Much softer than the last.. so soft that I can almost.. drift off to sleep right now.

“Go ahead, pull up your hoodie - I’ll stand back and watch your stuff. Besides, I don’t think there’s anyone else around but me. Geez kid, what did you get up to last night?”

“You’re the real MVP, you know that, Logan? Do you like milkshakes? I’ll buy you one to repay you. -- Honestly, it’s pretty much a blur after the second round of tequila shots.”

“oh my god,” sienna’s gaze zeroed in on three vendors’ tents, unsure of whether she was shocked in a good way or a bad way. santa monica pier was louder than usual, local vendors lining the streets to form a sort of farmers-market-slash-flea-market. fresh produce, antiques, homemade baked good, and oddities were in surplus. three tents lined up were sparkling red, green, and gold. christmas music blared from one of the radios, making it all the more ridiculous. “it’s august. what do you think?” she slid on a pair of antlers and turned to the person next to her, “too early for that jolly holiday spirit?” 

“jesus,” roman whistled when his attention was turned towards the brightly lit holiday tents. even for an avid christmas fanatic, this was a little too much, a little too soon. “you’re just missing your braids now, pippi.” he casually flicked the bottom of her hair up with an amused smile on his lips. the scene reminded him of the odd christmas mornings he had spent alongside the capra family. “i’ll give you five bucks if you parade in them the rest of our time here.”

There was a serenity in his light eyes— a spindle of tranquility that only a con-artist who’d just laid his trap could’ve possessed. When he lazily blinked it was like watching a car wreck in slow motion, an untouched beauty encapsulated in it, one that words hadn’t quite yet defined. He stood, mildly intoxicated on a balcony, overseeing the motel party as if it were his own, like a God amongst men. He didn’t intend the menacing facade he was giving off, the male singularly encased in the mood of the scene, eyes, downwards on the people dancing and the balloons floating and the illuminated pool splashing. Until he wasn’t, and his pupils were on an oncoming person, one that looked conspicuous enough to know what immoral, narcotic-filled actions were going on in the room behind him too. His vacant gaze went from the person approaching beside him back to the ground below, Rafe taking a step to the side to add space between them. He was in no mood to chit chat. Then again, when was he ever?

First thing off the plane and Roman was being carted away to a party he just had to make an appearance at. And it wasn’t the publicist’s fault -- she seemed like a lovely woman and was just doing her job as requested by the team’s manager -- it was simply Roman’s fatigue that caused him to retreat away from the lights. That’s why he escaped to the balcony a second after grabbing a drink. Stepping closer to the edge, he noticed a dark haired male shift away from him. He seemed focused on something Roman couldn’t quite grasp. “You look like you could use a drink.” He commented lightly. “I’m guessing you’re not a fan of the uproar that’s happening down there?” 

“I’m a man who enjoys being handcuffed in the right setting but this is just excessive. The fucking cop chained me to this spot so he could chase after my junior drug mule. Didn’t even leave me with a donut. You got any Doritos on you, or anything?”

“Wait let me get a quick picture -- this’ll be perfect for my snap story. It’s been an awfully quiet day so far. If you can come up with a caption, I’ll give you the rest of my Cheetos.”