play with fire ;

Samira simply raised a brow at Teo before shrugging, “let’s hope you’re right.” She actually didn’t care how much he swore and even if he did it in front of his kids because they were his kids, but in front of Maya, she’d try to limit it—only because she worried sometimes her kid was already exposed to way more than Samira had been at her age. “I think that’s the goal isn’t it? Always getting our kids to be…self-reliant.” Maya was nowhere near that yet but maybe hanging out with Teo’s kids would help her get to that point too. She hadn’t had too many issues with bullies so far but Samira knew that it could happen at any time and she just hoped Maya would come to her if it ever did. 

"I'll be right." he commented with confidence. "My kids are the only damn thing I've gotten right in this world." Teo grumbled, his hand moving to absent-mindedly rub his beard. Despite his flaws and his anti-social behaviours during his life, the one thing that he continuously fought for were his kids. He and his ex may have parted ways, but things were amicable and they knew they needed to keep the peace for their sake. "Self-reliant and strong." he was quick to agree with Samira. "'Cause there's some real shit stains out there in the world." he peaked a look at her, a teasing smile upon his lips knowing he may have been considered one of those in his younger years.

Well how the fuck am I supposed to show my support if you won't even let me read your books? You got me out here failin' before I can even start tryin'. How 'bout you just tell me which pages to skip so that I get all the thriller and crime, and miss the spice. Anyway, we didn't grow up together so I ain't got this innocent untainted version of you in my head of us as kids. Instead I've got this grown up pain in my fuckin' ass.

From her spot on the ground, where she held the brush of her nail polish and the bottle each in one hand, legs bent in front of her to reach her toes with the obnoxious aquamarine paint, Corrie looked up. Perhaps not the best position for a pep talk, but she hadn't exactly been anticipating one before she made herself at home and settled in for the idle task. Maybe she'd remember to take the bottle home this time, to make up for it ... and maybe it'd join the half dozen bits and pieces she'd left lying about here. Who could say? Certainly not Corinne.

"Hey- don't shit on my beer. What's the problem is the zero alcohol part." he reminded his sister with a sullen expression upon his features. He took another swig again just to get another taste, his nose scrunching at the obvious lack of alcohol in it. But it would have to do, if he wanted to get to where he needed to be. Teo wasn't an idiot, he knew drinking was a gateway to lesser drugs, which was a gateway to other drugs. "Let's order in." he had noticed how Corinne had made herself at home here, it had made him smile - when she wasn't looking. "But pastries are still on you." he reminded her with a cheeky smile, nudging her back with his shoulder.

Just means I gotta give you more of a reason to remember me by. Don't worry, I've got all this time on my hands now, I can get real creative. Ay mamacita, why you got it out for me so bad? If anythin' I did you a favour, gave you another arrest on your file. We can do a little roleplay. You throw some cuffs on me, tell me how bad I've been... You know how it goes.

     "You mean other than show up here to see your ungrateful ass?" It was tossed back but without the usual vitriol. Why they had been assigned to this; Gavin as a sponsor and Teo as his sponsee wasn't exactly a complete mystery. He just thought it to be absolute bullshit. Sure, the program worked for a lot of people. It was just that aside from never being addicted to pain killers again he gave no fucks about it. There was really only one way to get through his misery and without alcohol wasn't it. "I don't exactly remember," he responded, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand after Teo put it in his hefty order. A coffee and some juice was placed in front of him and Gavin looked up at the waitress like what the fuck but she only smiled and continued on her way. The diner didn't serve alcohol apparently. Immediately, the visual presented by Teo made Gavin frown in disgust. "Why does it have to be as horrific as your ass? Maybe I was with a beautiful woman. They tend to like me. It's a fame and, you know, a being good looking thing." Taking a chance, he sipped the coffee and it had a good initial effect on him. What he likely needed was water, plenty of hydration after the night he'd had. "Of course I am. So, aren't you supposed to tell me how hard it's been for you and shit and I tell you to hang in there?"

"Ouch," Teo whipped his hand as if he'd just caught his finger on something hot. "You're damn spicy today, huh hermano?" this guy had always showed up with a shit ass attitude to all of the NA meetings, although from time to time Teo figured it was all just a front he was putting on to protect himself. He got it though, Teo had done the same for a time in his life too. It was easier that way. Teo took a slurp from his coffee, almost coughing on it as he swallowed from stifling a booming laugh. "Listen man, with the state you're in this mornin', ain't no way you pulled a beautiful woman. In your dreams maybe." he chuckled again. "Fame, huh? Take a look around, sweet cheeks, that seems to be workin' out real well for ya." Teo teased lightly, noting that the man sat across from his had fallen from grace. The Icarus effect. "Ah fuck." he grumbled, a hand running over his face. Gavin clearly didn't give a shit about sobriety, so how was Teo supposed to get advice from the guy about kicking his addictions? "I don't wanna hear any bullshit. Give it to me straight, tell me what you really think."

Goddamn this was like being hit by a bullet train with thoughts, feelings, emotions, and nostalgia all at once. Her petite frame began to tremble with the amount of adrenaline that had spiked so suddenly, and Cassia's head sounded like a bee hive... nothing but buzzing, white noise. Jaw slack and staring at the only person she'd ever felt love from and for, Cassia couldn't comprehend how this was happening. How was this part of her past coming back to collide with her now? That ache of missing him and longing for the person she loved was beginning to beat through with every bump of her pulse, but there was no way to ever get that back. Though, the sick part of her wondered how she could get out of this.

Her blunder of words were causing a ruckus inside Teo's mind, his ears ringing sharply like he had just crashed into something heavy and devastating. But that's exactly what Catalina had been to the man... Wholeheartedly devastating, in the best and worst ways possible. Teo had always prided himself on being a pretty sturdy and sure man, but there was something about the woman stood before him that had knocked him off balance and he had been clawing at regaining it ever since he set eyes on her.

*     ──     CLOSED: RIZZO'S DINER.

Teo sat patiently, his left leg bouncing nervously as his eyes darted to the door every time it opened. Maybe the guy wouldn't turn up and then neither of them would have to do this dumb ass task they had been assigned. Teo was doing okay, he hadn't touched anything for a while, damn he hadn't even touched alcohol for a couple of months either. He was dedicated, although he couldn't quite say the same for his sponsor. Teo watched, partially in judgement, as Gavin just about fell into the booth opposite him. He looked sloppy, tired - uncommitted. "What dumb ass shit have you done now?" Teo couldn't help but chuckle deeply, a devilish smirk upon his lips. He ordered himself a stack of pancakes, extra syrup, extra bacon, and a continuous refill of coffee. He was going to need something strong if he was going to sit opposite this trainwreck for an hour. "Listen man," he began with a sigh, leaning back against the booth, arms outstretched. "I gotta be honest, you look like you just crawled out of my ass after a two day bender. You good?"

As much as Cassia supported Amos tennis just wasn't really her thing. Being active had always been apart of her lifestyle and who she was, sitting still and being idle almost made her insides scream... just another side effect from her messed up childhood that she needed to work through yet had avoided. The tennis tournament was going on in the background mostly, while dressed up for the Pride festivities with glitter sporadically on her skin and butterfly wings on her back, Cassia was enjoying the party going on around her.

Teo had imagined this conversation a hundred times over whilst lying on his solid prison mattress, staring up at the patchy ceiling. He had tossed over the imaginary scenarios. In one, she was happy to see him, eager to divulge just how much she had missed him. In another, she was on the arm of another man and Teo burned with envy. But to be surprised of his prison sentence? He hadn't prepared for that... His face flushed with confusion, he brow deeply frowning at her words until it eased. This had to be some dumb act, right?

Samira had been reading some details of a new contact on her iPad as she sat on the bench next to Mateo and glanced up when she heard him whistling. How that was supposed to intimidate a kid, she didn't understand but then again again maybe if he glanced at Mateo--the kid would leave his daughter alone. Maya for her part had been trying to support the other girl, already having essentially taken her under her wing, a fact Samira was quite proud of.

"My kids are smart, they know not to copy their dad." Teo commented, deeply hoping that it was all areas of his life they chose to not copy. He had never particularly been a model citizen, but for the second (or third, or fourth) time in his life, he was genuinely trying to be better. He had a job, he was attending his NA meetings, he wanted to be a dad that his kids could be proud of. "It'll be over for these other kids once mine learn how to fight their own battles, las pequeñas mierdas." he grumbled, his eyes still watching like a hawk.

You tellin' me you didn't have the date circled on your calendar? Gotta say - I'm a little hurt. I thought our ties went deeper than that. Nah, ma'am, I'm on the straight an' narrow now, got myself a real job. Fixin' up cars, can you believe it? Please, I can still remember the way you threw me around that night, had me sittin' up and thinkin' about it in my cell.

... Why? This ain't you tellin' me that you write that twisted fairy sex shit, is it? Or some fifty shades of fucked up? 'Cause if it is, I ain't comin' to the movie screenin' either.