𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐍

           he likes that laugh – one that sounds so real and unforced. looking past the ( somewhat ) rough start, this was one of the first interactions aeron’s had in the past three years that didn’t feel OBLIGATORY. like an iron pressed against flesh, aeron’s cheeks flush at the branding he’s positive the tip of her finger must’ve left behind. every inch of his face feels HOT, and quite frankly he doesn’t know which way to look. “ good question, ” he clears his throat, sitting up just a scooch taller from the small surge of confidence he had just received. it didn’t take much. “ but i can picture it happening a lot more if you stick around. ” bold, dude. 

           pawning off a confused look while tapping his chin, aeron knows for a FACT that he’s got the makings of a mischevious afternoon sitting in the trunk of his car right this very instant. hopefully none of which be inducing any marnie mirages. “ how about we start with getting something to eat that’s a little more filling than the unnaturally designed produce section your mom packed, what comes after is a surprise. ” to them both, but he’d opt to leave that part off. it wasn’t like he was completely clueless about what he wanted to do, and a little mystery never hurt, right? taking initiative, aeron starts closing up the small baggies of fruit and tucks them back into her lunch bag before pushing it back her way. coming to a stand, he grabs his own lunch before promptly tossing it in the trash can a few feet away. “ so, what are you craving? ” somehow feeling brash enough, he extends his hand outward as an offer to help her out of her chair. most would just call this an excuse to hold her hand – they’d be right. 

           “     i   don’t   know   if   i’d   wish   that   upon   you,     “     she   jokes,     “     i’ve   been   told   i’m   kind   of   a   BRAT.     “     a   HALF   truth.   still   a   B-WORD,   just   not   that   word.   it   is   without   hesitation   that   she   takes   his   hand   and   stands,   for   a   moment,   the   misery   is   FORGOTTEN.   it   was   as   if   things   were   NORMAL   once   more.   she   slings   her   bag   over   the   opposite   arm.   and   allows   him   to   lead   the   way.   oh   she   could   use   some   REAL   food   !     “     something   GREASY   and   horrible,   honestly.     “     blonde   head   nodding   eagerly,   jenny   practically   shoves   the   table   with   a   hum.   though   as   her   eyes   glance   from  aeron   to   the   lunch   room,   she   halts.

         “ so you were like, sittin’ around – DAYDREAMING about me before i even knew it? i feel like we’ve wasted so much time. ” it’s his job to be annoying, he feels. if he wasn’t trying to keep a featherlight feel over their conversation, he’d probably be less on his toes about how he was coming off. but for some reason, he felt she was WORTH THE EFFORT to put in. “ but you’re right about that, i really couldn’t give LESS of a shit. ” a wide-mouthed grin appears on aeron, and it felt as rare as it looked. the last sighting was probably when his parents finally let him get his dog freshman year.

         “ depends on how destructive you’re feeling, ” aeron says casually, curious hues scanning the makeshift buffet his friend had laid out before him, “ ‘cause i’ve got a couple ideas rattling around. ” he really was downplaying the number of routes that he could take their evening, but he wasn’t looking to overwhelm her while she was clearly still in mourning. did she feel like getting high before doing a quick dine and dash? maybe she felt like hopping a fence and stealing some cash from his obscenely rich neighbor – or maybe she didn’t feel like being rebellious at all. looking deep in thought, aeron makes a final decision and pops a pristinely halved strawberry in his mouth, eyeing her mischievously. “ or we can just see where the night takes us. no pressure. ”

           the   laugh   that   escapes   her   is   short   and   bright   like   the   OUTBURST   of   a   firework   in   the   night   sky.   rumors   and   social   suicide   be   DAMNED,   aeron   was   accomplishing   more   in   a   lunch   period   than   the   people   she   knew   and   loved   did   for   weeks.   jenny   randall   holds   a   grin,   eyes   twinkling   and   back   straightening   out   in   EARNEST.   the   teen   now   hanging   from   his   every   word.     (     funny   how   VULNERABILITY   and   HORMONES   worked.     )     she   leans   forward,   hand   holding   her  face   up,   cheeks   still   puffed   and   rosy   from   this   morning’s   CRY-FECTA.   her   right   arm   stretches   out   upon   the   table   and   snatches   a   flowered   cut   pineapple   before   popping   it   in   her   mouth,     “     what   do   i   have   to   do   to   see   THIS--     “     she   points   at   his   expression   before   tapping   a   dimple,     “   face   again   ?     “      

          he was supposed to be acting COLD, right ? she was coming to him for a distraction – so she didn’t have to focus on the reality weighing around her. it wasn’t like he blamed her for distancing herself, he’d probably be doing the same thing. his tongue sits in the corner of his mouth as he follows her to the cafeteria – listening to her menu. had her mom packed her food from the funeral ? jesus christ. maybe this was worse than he had thought. “ nah, don’t be … i’m sorry i was just acting like a dick. when my best friend died when i was nine – i don’t think i ever fully processed what happened. basically, i’m saying i shouldn’t be actin’ like what happened is nothin’. ” he won’t directly say he’s SORRY, but he hopes it’ll help take the evident edge off the exchange.

          “ worst part is, i was just getting used to you. ” aeron teases, the corner of his lip twitches upwards just long enough to form the smallest of smiles. he takes a seat next to jenny, plopping his paper bag on the table. “ so, now that you’re out ‘n about in the real world again, what’s the first thing you want to do? ” if she was going to keep dwelling on death, it looks like it’d be his job to remind her how to live. 

         nimble   fingers   unzip   the   bag   to   leave   it   open   to   his   viewing   pleasure.   she   sits   back,   arms   crossed   and   an   emphatic   frown   on   her   face.   marnie   had   been   her   best   friend   since   she   was   a   big   eyed   freckle   faced   kid.   the   teen   swallows   the   heavy   lump   in   throat   WILLING   herself   not   to   cry.   if   she   hadn’t   played   that   STUPID   prank   !!   if   she   hadn’t   been   such   a   ANNOYING   DICK   with   a   cell   phone   app,   marnie   would   still   be   here.   jenny   blinks   back   tears,   regaining   her   cool   and   returning   with   some   SEMBLANCE   of   her   usual   confidence.   his   statement   does   make   her   feel   better.   the   blonde   produces   a   REAL   smile   on   her   face.   

         “     i   think   i   always   wanted   to   be   your   friend.   partially   because   you   raise   a   lot   of   RED FLAGS   and   also   because   you   really   don’t   GIVE A SHIT.     “     randall   sighs,   sinking   further   into   the   chair   and   closing   her   eyes.   she   could   just   go   home.   maybe   pack   up   her   MARNIE MEMORABILIA   and   try   to   forget.   or   she   could   be   a   good   sport   and   see   what   her   ONLY   friend   had   in   mind.     “     i   happen   to   be   open   to   suggestions,   actually.     “    

          “ yeah, what about it ? ” aeron’s brow twitches up, eyeing the girl long enough to try and digest her reaction for having to deliver such news. she seems coy and casual – just like she would on any other day. granted, they hadn’t been so close over the last few weeks, so who was he to say how she usually acted? if aeron didn’t know any better, he’d think that jenny was just using him to distract herself.  

          “ sure, what the fuck. d’ya bring anything good ? i think i’ve got a sandwich. ” how could he say no to that face, though? he’s being set up, man. fuck the unfairness ! 

          it   almost   STINGS,   how   nonchalant   he   is   about   it.   as   if   a   HUMAN   girl’s   death   was   nothing   more   than   a   fly   swatted   on   a   irritable   evening.   alas,   jenny   does   not   show   her   DISPLEASURE.   she   remains  neutral.     collected.     she   slams  her  locker   shut   then,   hazel   hues   eyeing  him  warily   as   she   begins   to  walk   to   the   cafeteria.   it   had   been   a   while   since   they’d   talked,   but   lady   randall   still   assumed   they   were   something   close   to     (     dare   she   say   it   ?     )     FRIENDS.

          “     my   mom   packed   me   a   COMFORT   lunch.   chocolates,   fancy   cut   fruits,   the   whole   deal.   i   think   we’ll   be   fine.     “     she   tries   to   smile.   tries   to   be   NORMAL.     “     ‘m   SORRY   i   haven’t   been   around   much.   life’s   been   pretty   SHITTY.   i   hope   you   don’t   think   i’m   like,   another   high   school   girl   that   jumps   to   the  next   SHINY NEW TOY   or   anything.   i’m   pretty   LOYAL.     “     it’s   a   lackluster   attempt   at   humor   as   she   sits   in   her   normal   spot.

          “     well   marnie’s   GONE.     “     she   says   opening   her   locker,   her   once   silver   tongued   tone   absent.   the   teen   is   still   very   UNSETTLED   but   refuses   to   fall   behind   on   schoolwork.   she   casts   him   a   look.   jenny   KNOWS   she   has   no   right   to   ask   this   of   him   or   make   him   feel   OBLIGATED,   but   the   blonde   needed   a   presence   that   wasn’t   so   OUTRIGHT    pitiful   of   her   situation. 

MEME !! status :: accepting.  

send me a topic to write a meta about my muse on.

alright, alright, alriiiiiiight.

      so i’m gonna go ahead && start off by saying all our lil babies grew up together. ngl i feel like jenny is the type to make herself captain of every game in gym class && the line leader bc she’s got a thing about being #1. but then we’ve got kirby who stands on her lil tip toes && declares how unfair it is that they separate boys && girls during flag football.

now onto the real topic :: JENNY AND KIRBY AS FRIENDS AHAHHAHAHAH. 

      jenny randall is kind of bossy, sort of mean && really determined. lets say throughout grade school, Jenny && Kirby were more acquaintances than friends. they probably tolerated each other but never really talked out of free will. they both kinda figured they were too different … until the eighth grade. 

*CUE APPLAUSE BC THIS IS WHERE IT GETS LIT*

      eighth grade brought many excitements && new perspectives for their class. this was also the year where jenny randall’s love of SLASHER FILMS comes into play. now being a smol barely developing pre-teen, she was determined to get into that movie. but not only did she not have someone to go with, she had no idea how to get in.

so what does our jenny do ? she slides next to kirby on a bench during lunch && as nice as she can possibly be,  (  which is not that nice at all  )  gets kirby to sneak in with her.

MEME !! status :: accepting.   

send one for my muse’s reaction to your muse  – ≡ offering a place to stay overnight.

      there’s a fine line between what jenny considers an acquaintance && a friend. she hadn’t had the pleasure of having a REAL FRIEND since a week ago. with marnie dead && cops swarming in && out of her home, jenny hadn’t really had a chance to get much sleep. not to mention the reporters && students kissing her ass for whatever info their sweaty hands could grasp. though cass on the other hand seemed rather indifferent towards it.  ( maybe that’s why jenny liked her so much. )

      she could blame herself really. that ATTACK wasn’t random. it was calculated. it had to be. she had BARELY made it out with a stab on her back && a sprained ankle. her best friend, not so lucky.  ( god she wishes she hadn’t been such a bitch then ! )  maybe if she was nicer to people && nicer to marnie things would have been way different. maybe she’d feel less responsible if she had fallen victim to the knife too.