p r e s t i g e

*

“Yeah, it’s the definition of ‘Kim, people are dying but…” Rob raised an eyebrow, “Hold up, who the hell is Kim? Anyway I’m guessing that means you don’t know what you’re gonna get him either?” They asked while they folded their hands on the counter in front of them then rested their chin on the top of their hands. “Jet packs aren’t cool, Suede. Do you know how uncool you have to be to have the power of flight and still not be cool?” 

.

“Kardashian? It was a reality show when I was a kid about this famous family and their rich people problems. That was a particularly good moment where she lost a diamond earring in the ocean and was freaking out.” Suede shrugged one shoulder. “I have an idea but you won’t be hearing about it. Call me selfish but I’m keeping mine to myself.” She laughed and reached out to tap Rob on their nose. “I haven’t been cool in a very, very long time. I’m glad you haven’t noticed until now. What about a trip or taking him to do something in the city? He’d probably love just to spend time with you.”

My dad’s birthday is in like 2 weeks and I want to do or get something for him that’s above average but the creativity is on vacay apparently. Think you can help your local neighborhood baddie out? And money isn’t an object so seriously go nuts with the suggestions. 

“Your dad’s notoriously difficult to shop for. That whole unlimited money thing mens he usually just buys what he wants when he wants it which is so annoying.” Suede rolled her eyes at the situation. She had her own ideas for what to give Collin for his birthday but she wouldn’t be sharing the details with Rob. “He doesn’t have a jet pack yet if you want to try to get one of those in the next two weeks?”

***

“I do, yeah. When I can,” she admitted, missing playing more than she would admit. But she loved what she did. Still, whenever she got a chance to get some shots up, she did. “Judge you? No, no this is a judgement free boat. I should put that on the side. Unless someone does something truly heinous but asking for your drink the way you want? Not against the rules,” she said and handed Dylan the juice so she could add it herself. “I’m pretty excited about a few acts, the Balcoin guys especially because I may be a lesbian but those two men do something for me,” she joked, having known both of them well enough to know they were actually good people to be around too. “But I’m also hoping the Alchemists make a surprise appearance. I know there’s rumors that they aren’t gonna be making music anymore but I don’t know, I’m pretty sure I saw the guitarists boyfriend somewhere around here.”

.

“We should play together sometime. A friendly 1-on-1.” Dylan wasn’t sure where Stephanie’s abilities on the court were after switching from playing to business. She would take it easy on her if necessary but she hoped it would be more of a competition than that. “Alright, alright. Call it a planet fitness there’s so little judgement in this zone.” She laughed. She poured a little extra juice in her cup to sweeten it up a bit and when she tasted the result it was perfect. “No, you’re right. Something about both of them is a little queer. I get it. I don’t want to hook up with them but I’d make out with them at a party if I was feeling tipsy. Do you think they will? I haven’t seen them much lately I thought they might have stopped making music. You don’t think the boyfriend might just be here for the party like the rest of us?”

***

“Yeah, I mean I was a decent player but I think I love being a fan more. So I figured out how to make that into a job, took the right classes and here we are.” It had been a lot of hard work and a lot of kissing ass she had not all wanted to do. But she wasn’t easily deterred and she knew she was actually good at what she did. She was a hell of a negotiator. “Ah so an athlete true to her conditioning. I do admire it. But alright, you got it,” she said with a little salute before she grabbed a cup and mixed a drink for her. She did actually aim to make it enjoyable and not all liquor, pretty proud of herself as she handed over the cup. “If you hate it, please just tell me and I’ll get you a beer, superstar. You especially excited for any of the performances? Personally I’m waiting for someone to get up there and be really horrible so I can cheer them on despite it.”

.

“You still play for fun at all?” Dylan may have had big dreams of writing a novel someday but she filled in a lot of her free time by playing pick up games with her friends. If Stephanie was any good she might ask her to play one on one with her sometime. At the very least she’d get an afternoon with a cute girl out of it and some laughs. She took the finished drink when it was offered to her and nodded. She probably wouldn’t have been honest if she hated it but thankfully she did like it as well as she could like an alcoholic drink. They all tasted a little off to her since she usually steered clear. “No, it’s good. Thank you. Would you judge me too harshly if I added more juice, though?” She asked, laughing softly. Dylan rattled off a short list of the acts she was excited to see. “What about you?”

***

“I agree with you there,” she said with a nod, her smile remaining as she witnessed Dylan smiling at her. “A game I’m at for work not for fun basically. Ah that’s why. I think I’ve seen you play before. God, I wish. I work for an agency, we represent a few different players at different levels. But I’m not necessarily here to talk about work so I won’t bore you,” she added. Still, her mind was racing to figure out where and when she had seen Dylan play or if she had played against her back when she was playing. “Vodka and prosecco, little bit of juice. I would say ask for what you want. What do you like to drink? I’ll make you whatever you want.”

.

“Really? That’s dope. How’d you get into that? I play for Ravenwood and I’m on the soccer team on the off season. I wouldn’t find it boring at all but you shouldn’t have to talk about work when you’re off. That’s criminal.” Her smile faltered at the description of her drink but it was curiosity not disgust. “I’ll try that. I'd ask for what I wanted if I knew where to start. I usually just drink beer from the keg at parties and I don’t drink much outside of that. Shots now and then but those are always gross so it doesn’t really matter what you’re drinking.”

**

“Okay fair, there are some really whack boat parties. I appreciate you being cautious. Maybe I should put a for good vibes enter here sign or something,” she joked before laughing more. “Maybe but imagine having to out run the cops in a boat? Sounds cool but in these waters, man, I am only so good at GTA.” Steph’s eyes widened and she was laughing again. “I don’t know, is it? Maybe if I was a boy in high school. I was being serious, like I feel like I’ve seen you at some work game or something. Do you watch basketball? Cool, nice to meet you Dylan. What do you like to drink? I have plenty of options.”

“I’d rather not imagine the cops at all. I’m trying to have a good time.” She laughed long with her. Her smile was infectious. “What’s a work game? I play basketball. I watch it too, yeah. What do you do, throw watch parties or something? What are you drinking? I’m asking party to see if I think you’re still cool after I know the answer and partly because I have no idea what to ask for.”

**

“I feel like if someone is bringing their boat to a party it’s because they want some of the party to come to them,” she replied with a shrug, smiling as she looked down at her from behind her sunglasses. “Nah I just stole it out of the marina,” she joked, sitting back as she watched her get on the boat. “Yeah it’s mine. Or may Dad’s really but he barely uses it. This was all like storage three days ago. It is, isn’t it? Should be a good place to watch the stage, too. I swear you look familiar and I’m not just saying that. I’m Stephanie. Do you want a drink?”

“Maybe. And sometimes you get on a strange boat and it’s not a fun time that follows. Better to be safe than sorry now and then.” She smiled at her once they were eye-level. “Would have been cooler if you’d stolen it. A boat is a boat, though. It’s nice either way.” She turned to look toward the stage. It wasn’t ground floor seating but it was still a decent view. “Is this the part where you tell me you’ve seen me in your dreams? Yeah, Stephanie. I would love a drink, thanks. I’m Dylan.”

“You know, if you want to come up for a drink you can. Kind of rude to keep looking around the deck all day. Plus you scared the shit out of me when I noticed you there.” Steph looked over the edge of the upper deck of the boat she had convinced her father to let her take all the way to the lake. “It’s a nice one isn’t it? I’m not much of a boat person myself but it felt better than sitting on wet lakeside grass all day.” 

“Really? It feels more rude to invite myself onto a boat when I don’t know whose boat it is.” Dylan looked up at the blonde above her with a smile, eyes squinting slightly in the sunlight. “Sorry to scare you in a big crowd of people at a music festival.” She smirked as she walked onto the boat since she’d been invited and found her way to the steps onto the upper deck. “Is this yours? The boat, I mean. Definitely better than wet grass.”

**

His eyes widened at her insinuation but he knew he shouldn’t have been that surprised. He felt it, he just didn’t know how to name it. “Shit…I’m in love? No, I mean, I don’t think I’ve even admitted it to myself,” he told her with a laugh as his cheeks heated up and he reached back to rub at his neck. “I’ve never really been in love before, it’s new for me. I mean aside from Collin of course,” he added with another laugh, though it wasn’t a lie. “Hey!” He swatted at the bread and shook his head. “Rude.” He puffed out his cheeks at her pep talk but he appreciated it. She was absolutely right, of course but he had to believe it himself. “What if I tell her and she doesn’t say it back? I mean, how do you ever tell someone you’re in love with them without freaking them out?” He was freaking out of course but mostly because he was absolutely falling in love and it felt a bit like slowly free falling. 

He thought about her words, his thinking face clear as he stayed quiet for a moment. “Scrap big sponsorship, yes for small business exposure. Let’s scrap the Ice Spice idea though because as much of a hit as she has, she’s not the performer that’s really gonna get the crowd dancing, you know? We need someone who sings and dance, gets the party going. Kehlani would be a much harder get but can’t hurt to ask, right? Give the gays what they want,” he added with a smirk before laughing. “Okay, LLC, hell yeah. I’ll grab Collin’s brain to start work shopping some names. Bueller Bashes,” he said and started laughing as he thought of a few. “Flynn’s Fiesta’s. Ooo add that to the list. Good, I’m glad. That’s what matters.”

Suede laughed softly as she watched him process her take on things in real time. “I mean, I’m not in your head feeling what you’re feeling so you have to take my view with a grain of salt but that’s what it sounds like, at least.” She shrugged. “Collin’s a lovable guy, hm?” Her smile shifted to something smaller but somehow more personal as she thought of him. But this wasn’t about Collin, she was being there for Flynn. “You deserved that! So what if she doesn’t say it back? It’s not about reciprocity, is it? It’s about honesty and vulnerability. I bet she feels as strongly for you, honestly. Do you honestly think she’d travel back to Rosewood as often as she does for someone she doesn’t feel that strongly for? I don’t know Axel well but I feel pretty confident that she’d rather be in California than visiting here all the time. So even if she’s not ready to say it back yet I don’t see her freaking out and ghosting you. I don’t think you can see that, either.”

Suede perked up and took to her notes app again, listing small businesses she knew of already of a new note, putting the task of finding others on the old note. “Okay, Ice Spice is gone. You’re asking me to work miracles with Kehlani and I think we might need to get Kid Grantwood or someone else involved on that one but I can try my best. I can promise you queer, BIPOC owned small business sponsors though. That’s easy. Would you be down for a vendors area? Like, if there’s a jewelry or perfume store they could have a table and sell at the party?” She loved a project and she loved clear steps to success. This was where Suede thrived. “I think you can do better than both of those but there’s no bad ideas in brainstorming. Speaking of Collin, though...” Her eyes suddenly focused on the piece of bread she was tearing into small pieces over her plate. “Has he been acting differently with you lately?”

**

It was hard for Collin to express exactly what was up with him, especially to Suede; he hoped that his behavior didn’t come off as indifferent, she still touched him and it made him nervous almost, he could feel that on a physical level, but his very being felt muted, like he’d found himself stuck in second gear and hadn’t been able to get out of it. “Ummm no, whatever you’re in the mood for I’ll like I’m sure.” He felt bad, seeing how it looked like Suede was excited about the idea of their date night, and this exact thing was what he wanted for so long and yet there he was feeling…well not feeling much other than frustration with himself.

"Well, sure. I have impeccable taste.” She teased, eyes searching for his. She traced lines along the back of his hand in her lap as she prepped herself for the conversation she was about to start. “I could be reading things wrong so please, tell me if that’s the case, but, are you okay? You’ve seemed a little off lately. Not that you have to be any certain way, of course. But I just noticed a shift and I don’t want to pretend like it’s not there. I’m here, you know. If there’s something going on.”

**

Collin had been reading, though he wasn’t really absorbing all that much, just sort of mechanically consuming the words without digesting them when Suede put the program in his hand and he inspected it. The prospect honestly didn’t excite him much, but nothing really did these days, still he hid his indifference with a nod, besides if Suede wanted to go them he already knew that was what he was going to do, “No, not really but it sounds fun anyway, you painted a picture that I like the sound of. Besides, romance is in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it?” 

“I like that. Romance is in the eye of the beholder, exactly. I think cuddling up with you under the stars sounds pretty damn romantic.” Suede let her fingertips trail down his forearm until they slid into his hand. She’d wondered whether something was up with him over the last couple of weeks. He seemed relatively normal but something felt a little off at the same time. “Any special snack requests?”

“As is m-mine.” Tom nodded in agreement. “Is it b-bad a part of me would love to see it go down th-that way, so that maybe, just ma-maybe it gets engraved in Florida’s head that like, bad politics garner bad results?” Tom rambled, before realized that he’d done so. “Sorry, I-I get a bit passionate on t-the topic of politics.” He told her, although he hoped that he didn’t scare her off. He knew that it was a topic that not everyone enjoyed divulging into. “W-We do have tickets for tomorrow, a-after h-his full b-body w-waxing. W-Why he had to let us know all of that? No clue.” Tom laughed. “Yeah, it’s the opening of Friends here, every Saturday night.” Tom tilted his head. “I think y-you and I both know why not the bedroom too. We live in Rosewood, or at least, I assume you do-do.”

“Not bad at all. I think most of us are hoping for the same result. Florida needs to get it’s head back in the real world and out of the dystopian future novel it’s been emulating for the last decade.” Suede’s smile widened and her eyes brightened. “You don’t need to apologize to me about getting passionate. Give it a few years and I’ll be someone to vote for, myself. I can talk about this stuff all day long. Usually I’m the one apologizing for not knowing when to stop.” She coughed to cover the laugh that escaped her. “That’s a lot of information. Clearly he thinks you need to know it.” Suede nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. “Say no more. I do live here, yes. I have for, wow, almost four whole years. I think I’ve picked up on most of the local lore, finally.”

“So I-I’ve heard. Honestly, I can’t w-wait to see how the Mouse vs. the state of Florida g-goes.” Tom nodded. “No, I haven’t. I think m-my friend C-Chuck would have my head if he found out, I went a-and saw it without him.” Tom nodded at her question, happy to see that she was as interested in participating as she was. “Yeah, th-the guys and me basically bring our living room out here every week, so be as cozy a-as you’d l-like.”

“My money’s on the mouse. If Florida loses Disney World they loose at least 50% of their tourism revenue. Maybe more. You have to get your friend Chuck and see it as soon as possible. It’s so good-- even better than I expected.” Suede laughed as the image entered her mind. “Couches and ottomans welcome, good to know. Why not the bedroom too, while you’re at it?”