stella was glad to be out of the school - while spring break was still too far away for her taste, she could at least indulge in an evening away from the building, hoping for some adult conversations that didn’t center around the school, her job or the weather outside. she’d texted liam on a whim - i’m making lasagna and there’s too much for just me, wanna come over for some so i don’t eat it all in one sitting? :) - hoping he’d take her up on her offer. she’d been worried about him at the lock in - something seemed to be weighing on him - but she wouldn’t be able to worm her way into his story just sitting in full o’ beans. and she did always make too much lasagna. 

she was glad to hear a knock on the door, bear immediately barking loudly even as she shushed him on her way to retrieve her visitor - her house was a frequent stop for neighbors to come in and out, but she was glad to see liam and greeted him with a warm hug. “i just pulled the lasagna out - i cheated with the bread and bought some, but it should be delicious nonetheless. i hope you’re hungry.” 

stella hated to admit, but the school spirit for her own alma mater was a little too much even for her. maybe it was because she didn’t quite understand the appeal of basketball, or the fact that she was having difficulties lately trying to deal with her past forcing its way into her present, but she’d only really brought bear down to the parade so he could get energy out of his system. 

she was a little surprised to see liam there, guitar strapped to his back, looking as pensive as ever. she touched his arm lightly, smiling up at him and wrapping him in a quick hug, bear barking excitedly around their feet - “i didn’t take you for a parade voyeur,” she teased lightly, kissing his cheek as she greeted him. “don’t tell me you’re sucked into the basketball hype - i’ll have to rethink our entire friendship.” 

there were so many people in the school, it was practically suffocating - the place wasn’t meant for this many bodies, really, and stella could feel herself practically ripped apart at the seams with the stress of trying to keep her work environment from needing too many repairs when all was said and done. some had brought nothing more than the clothes on their back, and others - those who lived by the docks, primarily - seemed to have thought it necessary to bring their entire homes with them into the school.

she was trying to keep an eye out for rogue suitcases and boxes around the floor, but her mind was focused on one thing: coffee. it had been too long since her last cup, and she feared bringing out her own coffee maker in her classroom would draw a crowd she couldn’t contain, so she was ready to settle for whatever they were creating en masse for the hoards around them. it was why she didn’t notice the bag someone had left in the middle of the hallway, causing her to trip and fall even less gracefully than she normally would have, straight onto a body she didn’t have time to acknowledge before she crashed into them. 

“fuck!” she hissed, her ankle throbbing as she turned to glare at the culprit before she realized it was liam whom she’d nearly bowled over. “sorry - i tripped over someone’s my little pony bag. are you okay?”