there's no way

“Day drunk is cute as long as you’re young right? I was just trying to get better at my job and I didn’t want to waste the cocktail…s… cocktails.”

“Take it from a seasoned pro.. ‘Get better’ at your job at parties with friends. Doing it on your own ain’t never led to a good time.”

“Is it weird to go to a bowling alley and not bowl? I just really want bowling alley nachos.”

“Play an arcade game or two and you won’t get a weird look. I did that a lot back in high school when I didn’t feel like going home.”

As many of you probably do not know, I’ve been offered the position of Principal of McKinley. And yes, I know how ironic that is. 

My egghead big brother a principal? Hope you won’t be the type everyone ends up despisin’. 

“If you say, no I will be truly heartbroken indeed. It might be a good night, you know. We’ve grown a lot since the last time we’ve seen one another. I’ve matured, gotten wiser and well, you can’t deny that the years have been good to me.” Cooper grinned at the other. “It’s just dinner, who doesn’t like free food and amazing company?”

“You still don’t know how to take no for an answer, do ya?” TJ kept his typical sour expression, taking another sip from his drink. Things with Cooper in the past hadn’t.. Ended well. The fact that he was acting so casual had the younger man on guard for sure. “Depends on what you’re usin’ the dinner to lead to afterwards. I know how you are, and I don’t think any amount of ‘maturin’ will change that.”

“it’s not any different than the hospital. they had us doing school work when we could there, if anything it’s better being able to do it here. - it’s not like i can really do much else anyways, so i might as well be doing this.”

“I just want you to enjoy your summer, Li.”

“hah - i wish i could. i mean - i have time where i don’t have to do it, but, i need to at least be able to graduate within the year i was supposed to. - i’ve been thinking of taking a year off before college, though.”

“Kid.. That’s all secondary. You need to get your head on straight before you try to jump back into all that. If you don’t, it’s gonna be ten times harder than it usually would otherwise.”

@tjxstjames·

“You know, I realize I always come to you when I need someone to vent too. However, today is your lucky day because I am not going to whine and bitch about my job or call you in the middle of the night in my feels. I am going to take you out to eat tonight because I am hungry and feeling generous.”

TJ let out a sigh, wondering what deity he’d pissed off for Cooper to spot him in the bar he’d chosen to end up at tonight. There weren’t tons of drinking spots in Lima, but he should’ve figured Coop would be at one of them. “And if I say no? It’s been a long time, Anderson... Not sure this is a can of worms I’d like to re-open.”

“trying to do anything school related in the summer is a hell of a lot harder than you’d think i’d be. i thought it was bad just in general - but now it’s worse. i think i should just - become something that doesn’t involve school, or something.”

“You could always put it off for a little while- just take some actual time for yourself for once that don’t involve hospitals or stress.”

liam held tight to his uncle, not wanting to let him go, partially because he didn’t really think the whole balancing thing out with him missing a crutch, and because he hadn’t seen him in far, far too long. “what do you mean? at least tell us! or me! you know we don’t care about telling them shit, so your secret would have been safe,” he laughed softly, trying to lean all of his weight on the one crutch he had, “i - didn’t think this through, would you - mind?” liam laughed again, gesturing to the rod of metal on the ground.

TJ didn’t have to try hard to keep Liam up and stable, bracing him with one arm while he leaned down and grabbed the fallen crutch. “Again, kiddo. Takes the surprise out. Love these moments where you act like you’re still like five and freak out over me comin’ in.” Smiling, he helped adjust the crutch back under Liam’s arm. “Feel like we should order a bunch of bad food and catch up before one of your brothers or ‘Nel busts in.” 

liam nearly did a double take, thinking that he would be met with anyone but his uncle. he was fully ready to have to brave another conversation with his mother, put on a fake smile and hope she goes away, but he didn’t have to. liam’s smile was real, and genuine, “uncle tj!” he grinned, hobbling forward, letting one of the crutches drop on the ground so he would be able to hug his uncle, “i didn’t know you were coming!”

The older man laughed at the almost puppy-like excitement coming from his nephew, closing the door behind him so that he could drop his bag and accept the teen’s hug easily. “Where’s the fun in tellin’ you guys? I prefer to piss off your parents and eat all the food in the house.” He replied, voice cheery as ever. He’d wanted to come down for Liam’s surgery but he’d ended up with the flu and hadn’t wanted to risk compromising his nephew’s already weak immune system. So, this was the next best thing.