◟ 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙢 *

“ fuck no , take that back !“ Milo frowned , his hand nearly slapping the table in disbelief , ” there is no way in hell you are not going out . i don't care ! i won't hear it ! you've got to relax from this whole work thing — and what is the best way to do that ? by celebrating the new year and manifesting a new you , one that is more enjoyable to be around ! “ The brunet finishes his drink , turning to the other male , ” please say you'll go out — even just for a little bit . i'm sure em has some fun plans she can loop us in on . yeah ? say yes , you know you want to . "

both hands raise up in defense, icy hues going somewhat wide in amusement as he watches his friend put up an immediate fight over his plans of how he's spending the last night of the year. in truth, daniel should've known better than to say it out loud in front of milo. “ i am enjoyable, the fuck you mean ? “ daniel protests back, although his tone's indication enough he didn't truly take offense. a roll of his eyes comes next, reaching for his beer on the table. “ fine, yes. i'll go. i know dax and leon will probably throw a fit too, and that's three against one, “ the chef decides to follow along, knowing better than to take his chances on the whole group of his friends teaming up against him ( it wouldn't be the first time either ).

there's a shrug following his words, reaching over for the remaining slice on his plate. after all, there's nothing an italian loves more than pizza with a perfectly melted cheese on top. “ kinda, i thought it's next week, “ daniel admits, days passing him by somewhat in a blur by now given most of them are pretty much the same. “ no, you're the life of the party, i'm just a tall chap tagging along behind you, “ the male jokes, although he's not far off from the truth. finger raises as he chews on his food, a smile creeping on his lips. “ i'm flattered, really i am, but don't you think you can find someone better ? like the brunette i've seen you hanging around these days ? “

entering  a  drunken  haze  ,  crystalline  tumbler  is  filled  with  dark  and  stormy  liquid  that  she's  been  nursing  far  longer  than  the  group  of  girls  she  arrived  with.  grip  is  featherlight  ,  wrist  weak  and  swinging  ever  so  slightly  as  she  attempts  to  stabilise  her  balance.  lost  in  the  music  ,  rhythmic  drum  and  bass  echoing  through  the  main  area  to  liven  the  parties  ,  she's  separated  from  her  friends  and  dancing  alone  ,  completely  unfazed  ,  until  someone  accidentally  barges  into  her.  "  well  ,  excuse  you  —  now  you  owe  me  a  drink  and  a  dance  ,  c'mon  !  it's  almost  midnight.  "

he wasn't even supposed to be there, but leave it to his friends ( dax most especially ) to drag his behind at a party per usual. despite appearances ( or the fact he used to love it back in the day ) the party scene really isn't daniel's thing anymore. he'd rather spent his nights somewhere quiet, slowly turning a true homebody at the ripe age of twenty-seven. & as far as excuses for going out go, being new years eve certainly beats them all. with a beer in his hand, he watches his best friend leave him for a certain blonde, icy hues catching nell in the distance & without a second thought, he's making his way over, unsure of what he's even doing. the sea of dancing bodies doesn't bother him until someone nearly knocks his beer out of his hand, nearly causing him to knock the brunette before him altogether — luckily, it's just her drink. “ sorry, “ he feels slightly bad, nearly forgetting it's reaching midnight until she mentions it. “ well, i've never been the one to turn down either one so sure, i'm your guy, “ a smile reaches the chef's features.

head  thudded  as  a  promise  of  sweet  revenge  upon  self  ,  why  had  she  drank  so  much  last  night?  large  sunglasses  hung  on  the  bridge  of  her  nose  ,  overly  sensitive  to  the  light  that  threatened  to  burn  her  retinas  to  ash.  she  winced  at  any  and  all  movement  ,  but  she  needed  a  matcha  iced  latte  quickly.  she  was  convinced  it'd  cure  her  ,  and  so  she  waited  a  couple  minutes  in  line  before  receving  her  beverage  and  breakfast  which  she'd  also  picked  up  for  best  friend.  that  was  her  good  samaritan  job  for  the  day  ,  and  now  she  could  go  home  to  rot  and  get  rid  of  last  night's  makeup.  "  mornin'  sleepin'  beauty.  "  she  giggles  softly  ,  careful  of  how  much  volume  she  was  making  as  she  extended  the  goody  bag  of  greasy  snacks.  "  i  was  here  ,  i  just  went  to  get  fresh  air  and  breakfast  for  us.  "  it's  a  small  half  -  lie  ,  she  hadn't  woken  up  in  their  apartment  but  that  was  a  story  for  later.  "  oh  i  know  where  you  were  ,  you  abandoned  me  for  prince  charming.  again.  "

chocolate hues widen at the sight of the goody treats in the bag, the smell of fresh bagels filling her nostrils with such delight she practically snatches it from the other's hands. “ you're a god sent, “ the femme mentions in passing as she's already busy getting her hand inside, breaking the pastry in half and putting a large piece in her mouth. “ uh, i love you, “ whenever it's meant for the bagel or nell, it's unclear since her eyelids are already closed, flopping down on the couch as she munches on her breakfast ( or more like late lunch ). brow slightly raises, looking over at the other still unsure of the current time of the day as nell speaks about being here. “ oh, “ a nod, while she's still munching on her food. a faint blush of color reaches her cheeks at the mention of dax, now starting to remember the rest of the night — & this morning. “ first of all, he's more like prince phillip 'cause he likes to dance with me, and he's the strongest prince, “ lana corrects with a finger, a smile creeping on her lips. “ and second, i'm sorry, but most of my night's a blur. do you know i woke up at his place in glitter and a bedazzled thong ? where the hell did i get glitter ?? “

remy hadn't meant to zone out , but the atmosphere was abuzz and she couldn't land on one location to plant herself in . in fact , remy had been scanning the room for a familiar face and couldn't find anyone that she knew well enough to cling to , so instead she resorted to her phone . scrolling & scrolling — until a certain voice brought her back to reality . looking up from her screen , she was met with a pair of eyes that didn't seem too satisfied . “ who , me ? ” remy blinked back , eyes wide . “ i'm sorry . i don't hate you , ” she responded a little too honestly , struggling to read the room , “ i'm guessing you're joking but you're also way too cool to care what i think . ” shoot ! remy winced , “ that last part wasn't supposed to come out but , ” she motions to her half empty cup , “ you know . ” 

glossy, plump lips form a quick pout, her dramatics nearly reaching their peak whenever she's intoxicated. but then again, it's new years eve, so of course she'll indulge in as many fruity cocktails her stomach her muster ( it's not too many, mind you ). it explains why her need for attention is so big, especially when it involves her friends — remy included, now that the pair grew closer. “ mhm, “ lana mumbles, taking another sip of her drink before the other's compliment catches her attention. there's nothing more she loves than getting it. lips start to form a smile, not even trying to hide the fact her ego's growing at that very moment. “ well, you're right, i am, “ the femme nods, now completely facing the other. “ but you still ignored me and i hate that, “ at least, she's being honest as her bottom lip extends, acting like a child just denied a candy bar.

one  thing  about  emma  is  she's  always  down  to  party  .  even  if  it's  a  fancy  one  like  this  ,  she  just  knows  how  to  make  the  most  of  it  and  have  a  good  time  with  whoever  she  finds  along  the  way  ,  familiar  faces  and  strangers  alike  .  her  attention  has  been  fixated  on  this  cute  guy  for  a  hot  minute  ,  and  once  he  leaves  to  get  them  more  drinks  ,  emma  turns  to  her  side  to  find  her  friend  sitting  on  the  other  end  of  the  couch  .  an  excited  grin  appears  at  the  sight  of  lana  before  she  scoots  closer  ,  laughing  softly  at  the  blonde's  remark  .    “    okay  ,  drama  queen  ,  if  i  hated  you  i  would've  let  you  know  ,    ”    she  jokes  ,  shoulder  nudging  with  lana's  playfully  .    “    what  were  you  doing  by  yourself  ,  huh  ?  don't  tell  me  you've  been  waiting  for  me  .    ”    there's  a  teasing  smile  toying  on  her  lips  ,  head  titling  slightly  as  she  looks  at  her  friend  .    “   were  you  though  ?    ”

a snicker drops from her tongue, taking another sip of her wine ( is it even wine ? there's an umbrella attached to it ) as she forges offense over the matter. well, maybe she is a little offended but it's only because she's not receiving the attention she so cherishes. after all, drunk lana is far more high-maintenance than her usual, sober self. “ you ignored me, “ she accuses, bottom lip slightly extending in a pout as she motions over in the direction of her guy. “ and all for a him, “ another snicker drops, even though lana could've easily done the same ( probably even will at some point ). “ i was waiting for you, “ a half-lie, since she couldn't find her own prince phillip ( he's off somewhere with his friends too ).

“ Well, hello to you, too, ” Sebni could not help but smirk when she came closer. He wasn't quite sure if he was the one she had been eyeing, but her approach all but confirmed it. He had been eyeing her as well, though mostly because she caught his attention. The girl seemed like a familiar face. Had they met before? Talked? Shared an intimate space? It was more probably that she had been at his restaurant, though, which seemed more the case with the wine in her delicate hands. “ Hate you? How could anyone hate you? You are a sight to behold. I'm Sebni, ” He extended a hand toward her, not to shake but for her to give hers so he could kiss it. Sebni was still a gentleman, after all..

overdramatic per usual, especially while under the influence of wine & cocktails that have been flowing at the party, the blonde ( for a moment ) still refuses to look at him. well, that is until he starts handing her out compliments, her truest kryptonite & the reason why her pretty features momentarily soften up as she finally does. “ i am ? “ she quizzes, simply asking for her own vanity, already knowing the answer. glossed, plump lips curl into an award winning smile, delicate hand reaching over to land on his. “ i'm lana, “ she responds, pleasantly surprised when he kisses her hand, just like in those old movies she loves to watch. “ that's so sweet, oh gosh ! “

dramatic flair doesn't miss a beat, despite knowing ( deep down ) she's exaggerating the entire thing a little too much, especially when she purposely scoots a little further away once he finally decides to come over & sit beside her. “ pfft, “ a little snicker comes out from her wine-laced tongue, still refusing to turn her head to look at him. the rebellion ( in her mind ) that lasts minutes, in reality lasts less than a minute. “ well, so am i, “ lana responds, head snapping back as her chocolate hues rest upon his. “ stop smiling at me, it's not going to work, “ another huff, another eye-roll. “ why are you annoyed, anyway ? “

if  he  were  to  let  down  his  act,  olivia  would  see  right  through  to  michael.  the  fear  of  her  walking  away  for  good  would  be  unmistakenable  in  his  expression.  equally,  the  fear  of  his  plan  working  the  other  way  around,  pushing  her  into  the  arms  of  someone  else  for  the  night.  her  reaction  wasn't  enough  to  gage  her  true  feelings  and  he  knew  this  would  be  difficult  considering  he'd  seen  just  how  well  olivia  could  shut  people  out;  how  cold  she  could  be  to  protect  herself.  for a second, he let himself imagine that she wanted him to keep walking her way instead. but only for a second. what  was  he  really  expecting?  a  confrontation?  a  big  scene?  that  wasn't  what  olivia  was  like.  but  then  again,  she  wasn't  the  type  to  lock  up  as  soon  as  he  entered  the  room.  they  never  did  jealousy,  either.  when  he  had  olivia,  there  wasn't  much  room  to  entertain  the  idea  of  anyone  else.  when  he  didn't  have  her,  and  she  was  never  truly  his  to  begin  with,  everyone  else  merely  lived  in  her  shadow.  the  minute  she  turned  the  other  way,  his  face  softened  just  a  fraction  and  the  smug  smirk  plastered  all  over  his  face  a  minute  ago  disappeared  entirely.  he  disregarded  the  brunette  just  as  easily  as  he'd  found  her  and  kept  his  eyes  on  olivia  as  she  moved  through  the  room.  he  hated  that  he  cared  so  much.  he  hated  that  he  was  getting  used  to  seeing  the  back  of  her  head  as  she  walked  away  from  him.  he  absolutely  despised  that  the  woman  he  didn't  know  he  was  hung  up  on  was  right  there,  within  reach,  but  completely  untouchable.  it  was  just  a  summer  fling,  why  did  he  care  so  much?  she'd  made  it  pretty  clear  she  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  him  either  but  he  couldn't  accept  the  idea  that  he  was  the  only  one  feeling  the  way  he  was.  he  found  olivia  at  the  bar  just  a  few  seconds  later,  ordering  herself  a  drink  and  he  made  a  mental  note  to  keep  a  watch  on  her.  there  was  hardly  ever  a  time  when  she  could  handle  her  drinks,  michael  too  well  aware  of  that  fact,  and  it  wouldn't  take  long  for  her  to  start  feeling  the  effect  of  it  all.  pretend,  he  repeated  in  encouragement  to  himself because otherwise he would drop his pride and walk up to her.  he  pushed  through  the  bodies  separating  them,  trying  to  get  a  better  view  of  where  she  was  headed  off  to  next.

she likes being in control, especially when it comes to her emotions that she always had trouble showing. it makes her uncomfortable, so instead she bottles them up ( along with her insecurities ). so even though over the years she's perfected the art of acting cold & reserved, the reality is far much different — & just because she is the ice queen doesn't mean that's what her heart is made of. problem is however, she's having trouble keeping herself in check around michael, especially after that summer they shared where he learned just how much is hidden underneath her cold exterior. but then again, olivia never found herself in a situation like this before: she used to always know better than to involve herself in romantic entanglements, so why in god's name did she allow this to happen ? why does she care so much that he's out there with someone else now ? isn't that what she wanted ? for him to finally let her go ? the hard liquor that hits her throat doesn't help to wash away her thoughts, unusual tightness in her chest only growing with each passing moment that she spends at that party. chestnut hues move from the crystal between her fingers to the large countdown clock in the right corner every once in a while, somehow hoping time would pass by quicker, but it doesn't, no matter how much she wishes ( or drinks ) it to be. if anything, the more whiskey she consumes the more sick she feels ( what did she really expect ? ), the tightness in her chest reaching it's peak as she suddenly feels overwhelmed by everything: the loud music, the overcrowded place, the cheery voices in the background... it's all a little too much. so despite being just a quarter to midnight, olivia decides to leave early, having had enough of this party altogether. shooting a quick text to her sister so she doesn't worry, olivia starts pushing through the sea of people to reach the elevator ( nearly stumbling with each step because let's be real, she really can't handle alcohol ). waiting for the doors to slide open seems like an eternity, & given her impatience to leave she keeps pressing the button far too many times — which all explains a big sigh of relief once she steps inside. eyelids close for a moment, finally feeling safe enough to breathe as she leans back against the cold wall, waiting for the doors to close.

" the first time you hear it, i bet. " he kept his gaze on her for a second longer before turning to the bartender to get their order. he was actually surprised by the pleasantness he had been received with. he was going to chalk it up to the new year magic: everyone was feeling uncharacteristically optimistic. " so... " he slid the drink to her. " are you trying to punish yourself or are you from tennessee ? " even his drink consisted mainly from soda. the point of a bar was to get a drink that did not taste like alcohol ! " let me guess: your shot of choice is jägermeister ? "

it seems like she's doing a lot of uncharacteristic things tonight, not only starting with heavy liquor that she knows she can't take well, but actually opting to spark a conversation with a man. all things she'd usually stay clear from considering she's always been smart enough to know they come with a bad outcome. lips curve into a small smile in the corner of her lips, head tilting to a side as she averts her gaze forward. “ or the second, “ tone drips with sarcasm as she responds, finishing the drink in hand just when the second one arrives. while the strong liquor is definitely not what she'd opt to do in any other scenario, given how her night's been going it seems like the only thing actually helping her forget it. “ do i look like someone from tennessee ? “ the skater questions, a slight pinch of amusement now in her chestnut hues as she turns her head back around to look at him. “ or would you be more impressed if i ordered a holiday punch ? “ brow raises as she teases, knowing fully well her pretty looks could be deceiving. there's something resembling a small scoff that rolls from her tongue next, although she's still in a somewhat good mood. “ close, but no. i'm not a fan of shots, “ olivia concludes with a small shrug. “ but if i had to pick, i did try a lemon drop once, “

the  plan  had  been  simple  enough;  drink  until  he  could  successfully  shut  his  brain  off  and  then  leave  with  someone  he  could  tolerate  starting  the  year  with.  it  was  almost  flawless,  until  his  eyes  fell  upon  a  particular  blonde  that  would've  run  the  other  way  had  she  seen  him  the  minute  she  walked  into  the  party.  michael  had  been  aware  of  olivia's  presence  for  longer  than  she  seemed  to  realize,  lingering  in  the  background  enough  to  go  unnoticed.  pretend,  he  repeated  quietly  to  himself.  just  one  night.  he  could  pretend  like  she  didn't  have  him  entirely in  her  grip.  he  could  pretend  like  the  rift  between  them  didn't  bother  him.  he  could  pretend  like  she  meant  nothing  to  him,  when  it  was  the  furthest  thing  from  the  truth.  or  at  least,  he  thought  he  could  until  their  eyes  met  and  suddenly  he  found  it  difficult  to  come  up  with  a  single  reason  why he  couldn't  just  go  up  to  her  right  then  and  there.  the  smirk  pulling  at  his  lips  was  a  reflex  to  the  dirty  look  she  shot  him,  her  reaction  exactly  as  he  had  expected.  as  if  that  would be  enough  to  deter  him. he was not going to make it easy for her to ignore him this time.  pretend,  he  repeated  to  himself  once  again  as  he  raised  his  drink  in  mock  salute.  he  took  a  step  forward,  seeming  as  though  he  was  making  his  way  toward  her  but  then  he  stopped  halfway,  turning  to  a  brunette  he'd  eyed  earlier.  he  kept  his  eyes  trained  on  olivia  as  he  dropped  a  remark  that  had  her  giggling,  hoping  for  any  kind  of  reaction.

pretty features harden, spotting that irritating smirk across the room that speaks more volumes than olivia would like. it also makes her feel more than she would like too which explains why her eyes squeeze a little more the longer she keeps staring at it. impulse to walk over & yell at him nearly overpowers her, especially when he raises his drink in clear mockery. yet, she decides to play along, flashing a rather sarcastic smile in return too ( he's lucky she didn't flip him off instead ). chestnut hues go slightly wide the following moment, when he starts making his way through the crowd directly towards her. is he being serious ? wasn't she clear enough the last hundred times ? jaw clenches as she continues watching him, mentally preparing herself for whatever's about to come her way when... he stops. stops to chat with a long - legged brunette wearing an outrageous see - through dress that practically screams attention. is he being serious again ? why isn't he coming over ? olivia catches herself actually now wanting him to come over, a feeling so rare & atrocious it almost makes her sick to her stomach right then. a look of disgust washes over her features as she witnesses him flirting, making someone else laugh while making eye contact with her. it's unusual, the feeling that creeps up on her as she watches the scene unfold. not once in her life did the femme genuinely feel jealous over anyone romantically, such a notion never existed in her book simply because she always entirely too focused on her career & being the best. which is why it takes her a little too long to actually realize what's happening, to realize why she suddenly has the urge to scream, or even walk over there herself to pull them apart. what is she thinking ? what is he doing to her ? luckily for the both of them, olivia's never been a dramatic woman, never making a scene or letting her emotions take control — & she's not about to start now. instead, she turns back on her icy facade, the cold exterior that makes her who she is, before walking away. but her hands still quiver, her mind still entirely too focused on what's happened that she genuinely, for once in her life, doesn't know how to shake it off. she's not jealous. she couldn't possibly be, or at least, that's what she keeps telling herself as she orders a strong glass of whiskey from the bar.

the first thing he noticed about the girl next to him was that she was, quite frankly, pretty, and as he was trying to decide how to strike up a conversation with a stranger, he realized what had been so familiar about her face. " can i get an autograph ? " the earnest expression remained on his face for a fraction of a second before his lips spread into a wide grin. he winked to save himself from having to shout over the loud music: just kidding. his head jerked towards the menu behind the bar. " what are you having ? "

despite appearances, this isn't her scene. sure, gathering sponsors & smiling at fans comes easy ( it's a job ) but actually being in an overcrowded setting like this, especially on new years eve, makes the skater feel out of place. which explains why she's on a second glass of bourbon, subconsciously trying to drink her way out of thinking how she wishes to be home, when she hears the question. chestnut hues roll inwardly, not even trying to hide the reaction when she turns her head over to look at the person with the audacity to ask such a foolish request on her night off. she's about to voice a big no when she notices the playful smirk tugging in the corner of her lips, shoulders falling down in ease. “ nice one, “ olivia comments, raising her liquor. “ whiskey on the rocks, “ she continues, deciding to step a little more out of her comfort zone. after all, where's the harm of allowing a cute guy to buy her a drink ? it's almost the new year, so why the hell not.

the holidays had always been something poppy loved. the girl occupied herself with gift exchanges, parties, and dinners. new years eve was next and here the redhead was at yet another party. with a platter of cookies in her hand and a bottle of wine under her arm, she made her way into the kitchen, a soft laugh slipping past her lips as the other appeared. "no, i think im okay right now, but maybe i can give you a hand ?" she hums, placing each of the items she brought onto the counter. "how can i help ?"

she's obviously clueless, despite her best efforts to look like she knows what she's doing. preparing the turkey for the entire dinner party ? she's not even sure she could've baked edible cookies, yet alone a full gourmet meal. which explains a small sigh of relief when the other offers to help, hands dropping down to her sides as she starts wiping away the remaining flour of her apron. “ yeah, that'd be great actually, “ she confesses, a rare occurrence for someone always in complete control. “ i'm supposed to season it, “ hand flies over the open ipad screen in front of her, revealing the online cookbook that literally says ' preparing the turkey for dummies ' . “ i'm not even sure how, “