#childactress

SHE'S THE...WHAT?

In her own skin, in her own clothes, Samira doesn't guard her expression as carefully. It's a judgment-free bewilderment, but—come on. She can't possibly read Mara's mind right now, and this whole start to a social interaction is overwhelming for someone as reclusive as Samira.

Samira has this flickering consideration of: is any of this happening? It startles her so much that she sobers up—as much as she can force herself to sober up—instantly.

"I work at PTMC, yes." She smiles thinly.

“can you catch somebody's crazy?”   mara asks and starling feels herself startle,   as if caught.

“well…”   she hears herself trail,   running her tongue along the back of her teeth. theory dictated no; there was nothing communicative about insanity.   but practice… —CHRIST.   pull yourself together starling!   

refuses to look at her. cranking the angry industrial track louder, instead ! nine inch nails rattling the bass like the band personally tries to shake mara out of existence. ' yeah ? '

david snaps over the noise, a brief glance toward the young woman beside him before he looks back through the windshield and to the road. ' then jump. ' leaves him sharp, leaves him immediate. he regrets it just as quick. eyes snap to mara again, her hand on the handle, before he suddenly shoots his hand out to slam the lock down on her side. ' jesus, you're so fuckin' dramatic ─ psycho. '

   lauren knows better than to think mara banks considers her a friend. this does not hurt her feelings. in fact, it's actually a relief, because lauren doesn't consider mara a friend either. they met what, four or five times growing up ? always at the push and shove of their parents, their managers, their parents' managers. that's not a friendship . . . that's a future business venture ! either way, though, their roles in all of this have undoubtedly FLIPPED. lauren's got a band beginning and she thinks they're pretty good. what does mara have, another DUI ?