“It’s funny how quick the milk turns sour, isn’t it?”

“Thank you so much, yes, yes, thank you again, speak to you soon!” 

Ian ended the call and clicked the button on his phone that sent his screen back into darkness before sliding it into his back pocket. “So.” Ian turned around, raising his eyebrows nervously at Jonah as he smiled. “I did something. And please don’t be mad.” He thrust his hands into his pockets, shrugging his shoulders a little as he toed the floor. “I saw this on the market, it just...looked perfect. I wanted to do something for you, something romantic.” His eyes widen a little. “So. I bought us this house?” 

“And that’s the newest by Harry Styles, Sign of the Times, is riding the top of the radio waves, debuting at number four and steadily climbing it’s way up. Next up, we have Ed Sheeran, Tinie Tempah and more in the next hour, just—”  Niall pursed his lips, flipping his phone back and forth between his index and thumb. He was sprawled on his couch, his house freshly cleaned and vacuumed. Not expected back in the studio until later in the week, he was trying to find things to occupy himself. And he could really use something to occupy himself now. It was a shame he’d already cleaned his kitchen, reorganized his closet, rearranged the knick knacks beside his tv... Running his tongue over his teeth, he unlocked his phone, flicking through to his texts. 

                  TO:  HARRY 🤘 🤖

      ↪ hey.........wanted to say i liked

He shook his head, rolling his tongue over his bottom lip and deleted the text.

                 TO:  HARRY 🤘 🤖

     ↪ heard the single, it sounds really good      ↪ still in the states?  

The window latch was easy enough; though the lacy window drapes were a little tricky to move past. Connor perched on the windowsill, peering over at Charlotte’s bed. She was pretty sure she was sound asleep. “Hey, hey. Charlie. CHARLIE. Wake up!” 

Audrey didn’t pry. She wasn’t that kind of person. With stories; film or tv show or book, she was the best at avoiding spoilers, and always managed to outlast Noah. She never needed to know so badly that she read ahead or clicked past the ‘spoilers beware!’ jump. She was patient, capable of waiting. It was the same with her friends. Audrey understood body language, she knew when something was out of the ordinary. The tilt of someone’s head. The point of their feet. The set of their mouth. But she also knew how important choice was — the decision to let go of whatever a person was keeping close to their chest. It wasn’t that honesty wasn’t the best policy. Audrey just understood that everything didn’t need to be shared immediately with everyone. There was a time and a place. But. She might not ask, but she might. Speak as if she were receptive to any divulgences. Twisting her mouth, her chin lifted slightly, her tone as casual as she could. 

“Your mom heard much from Sheriff Acosta lately?” That could mean any number of things; Emma was free to take it in a casual way- or answer as seriously as she liked.