#lex.start

CRUZ : how would they stay on

               thankful only that he didn’t have to drive all the way home , he goes right to his house to check on his siblings. all seemed well , so he decides to head back to campus. doesn’t know why ––– hates being in public. hates being anywhere he might have to deal with people , but it was almost nice not having to worry for a week. he’d never tell his siblings that. sat on the steps on the commons going over the chapter they would be reading next week , a sigh loudly leaves his lips as a squad member approaches. “ didn’t we spend enough time together this week ? ” annoyance clinging to his words , head shaking softly. like bas actually spent time with any of them over the week ! " do you want something . . . or ? ”

“Well my fuckin’ van broke down twice on the way here, i’ve eaten nothing but gas station food for the last two days and I’m honestly a little tipsy right now...but I made it!” The girl grinned at the fellow lexsquad member, throwing herself down by the side of the pool. “Better late than never, huh?” She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “So...how are you babe? How’s Vegas treating ya?”

            lanky legs carry him through the commons , heading towards the steps after his last class finished. the sun was shining , and he’s not sure what it is about the light shining against the stairs that makes the sight so pretty. feet pause , watching as a lexsquad member settles against the steps. despite his typical shy nature , he was moderately comfortable with most of the lexsquad , so he approaches with a soft clearing of his throat. “ i know this is going to sound weird , but can i take a picture of you ? well , i mean ––– it’s going to be so i can paint you later , so i actually guess i should ask if it’s okay if i paint you ? i . . . realize how creepy that sounds , actually , so you know what , never mind. forget i spoke. ” an incredibly smooth delivery –– nailed it. “ sorry. ”

MIMI: i've resorted to drinking wine coolers and stressing myself out.

eli sat on a bench at campus, his camera and equipment was next to him as he held onto a jacket he’d designed for one of his projects. he kept checking his phone and looking around, it seemed like he’d been stood up by someone who was supposed to help him with his assignment. he lets out a frustrated sigh, but then his face lights up with optimism as he sees a member of the squad in the distance. eli approaches them, a bit hesitant. “ hey uh, what’s up? ” but before they can answer he continues talking, “ look i’ll get to the point, i kinda need some help with my homework. uh, just need to take a few pics... ” he trails off, hoping that’d be enough of an explanation.

“so i hope everyone’s hungry, i might’ve gone a little overboard with food.” he’d kind of forgotten that other people were also probably gonna bring food, and maybe he should’ve coordinated. “whatever, i can probably eat an entire pizza on my own. who brought the drinks?”

        𝐇𝐄'𝐒   𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓   𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓     three  hours  lying  idly  on  the  garden’s  open  field,  nose  deep  into  the  printed  pages  of   les  fleurs  du  mal   ----   all  in  true  rowan  fashion.    lips  humming  along  to  the  soft  classical  instrumentals  of  his  phone  on  speaker,   his  ears  perk  at  the  sound  of  footsteps  approaching  his  direction.     ❛    congratulations !    you  found  me,    ❜     laughter  escapes   ----   turning  to  fully  meet  the  gaze  of  the  other.    he  flashes  warm  smile  over  and  sets  the  closed  book  down  on  his  chest.     ❛    so,  what’s  up ?    surely  you  didn’t  come  all  the  way  here  without  a  reason.    ❜     reaching  over  on  his  other  side,  he  offers  an  opened  container  of   freshly  sliced  fruit.     ❛    grape ?    ❜