#sdhqclosed

Soaked and desperate, Samantha was pounding on the door with a ferocity which would typically be uncharacteristic for the brunette. It was dark and pouring out, not even shadows passing the street lamps at this hour of the night. She shivered, a weak whimper coming from her arms. Rain continued to crash upon the pavement. "Bentley? Ben– are you home? Ben!" she shouted through the door, her other hand being used to cradle a bundle of fur and her now-soggy scarf that had blood seeping through it. "Ben please, I need your help."

"Whatever you've brought smells delicious– come on in, come in!" Cyrus ushered the other inside his home after opening up the door to him. He reached for the takeaway bags Orlando was holding, bringing them into the kitchen and beginning to set things out for them at the table that already had a pitcher of homemade lemonade and two glasses upon it. "How was wrapping the last episode? Are you excited to get on with the next one?"

It didn't take a lot of convincing to get Halley to work with her on trying to concoct some sort of plan. She was on board with trying to help Val figure out if Hunter was harboring some underlying feelings or if the NYE kiss had really been a spur of the moment thing. So of course the women got dolled up together, Valeria eventually ending up in a minidress with some lace detailing on it, paired with an impressive pair of heels. They were just heading out and even better than they could've planned it timing-wise, Hunter was there and unsuspecting as Valeria was pushed to the front and she was pretending to not have expected to be running into him today. "Hunter– hi. Halley and I were just heading out," she explained casually. "What are your plans tonight?"

"You know how it is–," he shrugged as he held up the bottle of bubbly for Clem to see, "–I know a guy, who knows a guy," he added nonchalantly before his signature grin cracked through. "And what's the fun if I can't share it, hmm? Will you do me the honors and drink it with me?"

"Did you hear me? We should find you someplace to sit," Bentley attempted to say to his boyfriend, at odds with the general volume of the event. Not only was it getting more and more crowded by the minute, but he could also tell by the way Orion had been steadying himself, the other had had a few too many to drink. "Come on, Ri," he said affectionately, guiding the other with his hand on the small of his back. "Let's get you some water and maybe some fresh air while we're at it."