#ohp!

Ұ - for my muse to comfort yours after witnessing an emotional meltdown.

– “PHOENIX —–” there’s a moment of hesitation before she drops her pom poms and storms across the court. they’re not supposed to be interacting with the players during practice, but the coach technically just called for a five-minute break and the other cheerleaders are standing around on their phones at the moment, so she damns that rule to hell before she can even think of it. she didn’t see what had happened – but from the looks of it, royal had done something to royally piss phoenix off, and she could tell from the redness of the brunette’s face and the unadulterated fury in his eyes that he was on the verge of something ugly. she’s in front of him in less than a few seconds, hands hovering close to him like she wants to touch him, but isn’t sure if that’s a good idea, and she tries her best to keep his attention on her. “—–why don’t we go sit somewhere quiet?” she smiles hopefully at him, nodding as she finally finds his hand to intertwine it with hers. “—— maybe outside?” she glances toward the doors of the gymnasium, beginning to tug him in that direction; AWAY from his brother. she bites her lip, turning her eyes back to phoenix and finally moving her free hand up to rest on his cheek, grazing her thumb over the peak of it. “look at me, hey. ——- it’s alright, isn’t it? you’re alright.”

♬ reverse - for your muse to hum or sing to calm mine down

– IT’S BEEN A LONG DAY —– she repeats that over and over to herself as she paces the floor of her room. it’s been a long day, she mumbles to herself, that’s all. she repeats it like a mantra so that if anybody comes to ask her what’s wrong, she can say it as if it’s the TRUTH. it’s late at night, eleven or so, and she can tell it’s that stage in the night where everyone is done with socializing and wants to keep to themselves. she’s no exception – her door is cracked open, because she’s not quite sure if there’s an open door policy or not, but she hopes it does enough to give off the message that she doesn’t want to talk. it’s been a long day, but that’s NOT the truth – that’s NOT AT ALL why she’s a mess. the problem here, see, is that she accidentally called her mother. before this past summer, that wouldn’t be such a big deal – her mother might’ve scolded her for being up so late, but that would be the end of it. the problem here and now, see, is that she’s not supposed to be in contact with her mom, she’s not supposed to talk to her or call her or see her or even know where she is, and god, it was an accident, she swears it – she hung up after the third ring because she realized her mistake. and now she’s terrified – what if this has jeopardized everything? her mother hadn’t even picked up the phone, but what if she’d messed everything up? she’d been given specific instructions for her own safety before she came to halston – no calling, no texting, no NOTHING to her mother. she was free to interact with ralphie, and to call or visit her father in cases of EMERGENCY, but her mother was OFF LIMITS – but she’d never been informed of the repercussions if she were to make a mistake like she just had. 

what if this means she has to leave, now? what if this means she has to pick up and fuck off somewhere else and START OVER? god, she can’t do that to ralphie – he’s already reeling from moving across the country. she tries to tell herself that it’s alright, her mother hadn’t even picked up the phone, technically she hadn’t interacted with her. she wonders, for a moment, why the thought of leaving halston brings her such a wave of anxiety. that was the PLAN, anyway – once the investigation closed, she was supposed to go back to new york. WHY did she dread the thought of that more and more with every passing day she spent here?

“——-we’ll be happy together, unhappy together ——”

her head snaps up at the soft sound of a voice, and GOD, she probably looks pathetic, tears streaming down her face and all. the redness of her face worsens when she realizes that it’s PHOENIX who’s pushed her door open, and he’s singing to her, and she lets out a laugh to try to cover up that she’s crying as if he can’t see it on her face —–

“—–now won’t that be just fine? the days may be cloudy or sunny ——”

he’s in her room now, and she shakes her head as she laughs, tries to feign annoyance like usual, but she can’t – she simply moves her hands up to wipe the tears from her cheeks, and then he takes them and holds them and doesn’t let go —–

“——we’re in or out of the money, but i’m with you always ——-”

she lets out another laugh, but it’s a bit wracked with the way her body wants to keep crying, and she moves to wrap her arms around his neck despite the fact that he doesn’t guide her to do so —– it just feels natural. she sniffles, opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out so she settles to rest her head on his shoulder ——

“——-i’m with you rain or shine.”

they’re swaying, now, and she sniffles again, but her tears have stopped falling. it’s quiet —- the quiet hum of the streetlight outside her window filling the air, and she lets her eyes slip shut, doing her best to ignore the way it burns. she feels like she owes him an explanation, but she can’t bring herself to give him one —– a TRUTHFUL one, at least. she remains silent for a few more moments, trying to muster the courage, but she falls short, swallowing thickly instead. she can lie to him —- just this once, she tells herself. 

send me ☁ for a thought my muse would have while looking at yours in the middle of class.

– ( quoting pages of voltaire without even blinking? surely, he’s doing it on purpose, now… )

send a ✦ for my character’s reaction to yours dressed nicely.

– SHE HADN’T EVEN wanted to be here, really. hadn’t, past tense, because now, she’s not so sure – now, she’s got something to focus on, she’s got a challenge, she’s got someone’s attention to pine for. instantly, she moves so that her body is turned away from him, afraid to look too interested, but it’s possible the glances she takes in his direction give that away anyway. regardless, she can’t help herself – he looks incredible, and she can only hope she’ll catch his eye.