bad boy blues.

“i’m sorry, could you repeat that?” there’s a teasing note to dawn’s voice that she struggles to keep hidden, teeth just barely catching her lip before a smile can fully blossom. “i don’t think i heard you clearly.”

"oh my GOD . . . " maren murmurs, cheeks flushing as she shakes her head. "now i'm embarrassed! don't make me do it . . ." and she's mostly joking as she looks over at dawn, a wide grin crossing her cheeks. "i think i love you."

“no, you don’t,” she’s quick to disagree, head shaking with something almost resembling pity. he may not realise yet, but this is for his own good. “you could go out right now and find at least ten other girls who wouldn’t cause you nearly as much trouble.”

"you're right, i could." he nods at the femme's words, his voice gentle, eyes trying to find hers. "but i don't want somebody else. i want you. why do you find that so hard to accept?"

“ you won't ... if anything, you always make it better. ” his words, while not exactly sincere, are delivered with faux warmth. gracie could be a LOT to handle, difficult to read, even harder to please ― not to mention the mood swings. but something about her had him hooked. “ there's a nice bodega down a couple blocks, yeah. a bottle of wine sounds fantastic. ” a few glasses of red would likely cure his headache ... and fix his attitude. “ not sure i like the idea of you wondering 'round alone at night, though. ” despite it being a safe, expensive neighborhood.

she can tell he's bullshitting her, but she doesn't care. if he were bullshitting her that meant that he cared enough to at least pretend. "mhm, yeah. i know the one." and the only reason she knew of it was because that was where she used to get free packs of newports. the attendant took a liking to her shitty banter . . . she never left without stuffing her pockets full of goodies. it had been a mutual understanding. "well it won't be long. i'll get the kind that you like, okay?"

"don't you know you're full of shit?" she scoffs, eyes rolling. ione doesn't allow herself to appear too affronted by his jarring tone. "is this just a pushing everyone away tactic?"

"i don't wanna push you away. i just think you're crazy. and i think i should be able to tell you that . . ." he's unable to make eye contact, possibly due to the fact that he was lying through his teeth. he had a tendency to self sabotage.

"and you thought you'd come here?" judah doesn't mean to sound so dismissive but it's late, he's just been pulled out of bed. he runs his fingers through his hair and breathes out a sigh, stepping aside. "you better come in then."

"i um . . . yeah . . ." and she only realizes how crazy it was once judah says it out loud. "i probably should have texted you first. i just . . . this is the first place i thought of going." and josie can't even make eye contact as she shuffles inside, clearing her throat. "kinda inconsiderate of me. 'm sorry . . ."

“ gracie ... that's not what i meant. FUCK ― i'm sorry. ” not one to apologize often ( or without an agenda ), his hand reaches over to grab hers in an attempt to stop her from leaving. spencer might be too tired for meaningless conversation, but he still wants company ... and hers will have to do. “ let's order some thai and just relax, okay? ”

"if you're in a bad mood i don't want to make it any worse..." always play the victim. rules number ONE gracie followed without others knowing. "or . . . if you want a couple of minutes to yourself . . . i can go grab a bottle of wine from the corner store . . ." rule number TWO . . . make others feel like they need you. "there's that one down a couple blocks, right?" play dumb. number THREE. she knew where the nearest fucking corner store was. she had this town memorized like the back of her hand.

cassandra was supposed to be living her DREAM. when she first moved to LA, it had felt like a much needed fresh start, a chance to get away from the heartbreak of separating from bodhi by delving into her work as a makeup artist. however, as soon as the media caught a whiff of their breakup, it was all over the tabloids, all over her dms ... it was the first thing people asked when they met her. no matter how hard she tried, it was impossible to escape the subject or to keep her ex-boyfriend out of her head. to this day, the girl couldn't help but blame herself for failing to show him that they fit together, that there was a place for him in her life, and for her in his. which maybe explains why, in a saddened trance, his number was the only one she thought to call. “ bodhi ... ” his familiar voice rings in her ears, chest tightening. “ NO — no, i'm not okay. i need you. ”

almost immediately bodhi finds himself gnawing on his fingernails, the sound of cassandra's saddened voice making his heart feel like it was about to beat out of his chest. he was never able to handle it when cass was sad . . . always made him feel like he was gonna cry too. over the phone it was no different. "you tell me what you need me to do and i'll do it." she knew that. maybe that was why she'd called. but bodhi wanted to believe it was because she missed him as much as he missed her.

adeline was a train wreck as of late, indulging in all the bad habits she had previously judged others for. drinking all the hard liquors she once smelt in wilson's breath, as if it were some masochistic way of reminiscing. at this point of the night, the blonde had lost track of where the bar hopping lead her new found group of friends — an eclectic group of spoiled rotten brats, from old money families. “ WHAT ? ” resting back against the worn leather, she'd failed to recognize him over all the noise and dim lighting. but as soon as she did, a shiver shot down her spine, although the girl tries her best to disguise it ... refuses to give him that satisfaction. “ oh, hey wilson. sorry, i didn't see you there. maybe because you look like any other dumb fuck in this joint. ” brings tequila soda to glossed lips, words caustic.

in all honesty, wilson was doing better than he had been. within the last few weeks he had actually managed to begin showering regularly . . . something most people would be able to do without any rewards. of course, if he showered, he was allowed to have a drink or two . . . maybe venture out to the bar . . . see if he could find a girl to fuck that night. it was a cycle. but one that he was fairly good at. and that kept him content. "OH. so you're a bitch now..." if somebody would've told wilson a few years ago that he'd ever call adeline a bitch, he wouldn't believe it. but things seemed so different now. he turns his body away from the femme but quickly finds himself turning back. "at least do a shot with me if you're gonna call me a dumb fuck..."

“ if i have to think about ONE MORE thing today ... my head might explode.” spencer voices, tone exhausted as he pinches the bridge of his nose, hoping his words are enough to convince the other to shut up.

"alright," and gracie has always been the kind of girl to take everything to heart. "so then i guess i'll fuck off for the rest of the night." she had other things to be doing anyway. going over to spencer's in hopes of a quick dinner was useless. she knew that. but she wanted somebody like him on her side. "call me tomorrow if you're in a better mood, yeah?"