* star / maps !

He laughs, dragging the toe of his shoe along the dirt, and watching as the dust settles. “ Yeah, well, they might let pretty little girls like you off on probation when you can afford expensive ass lawyers. ” A scott escapes him. She’s right. He would like to make it more fun — calamity made things interesting, and stakes raising were a good idea to boost his adrenaline. But not with things like that: money, that was the goal. And not getting CAUGHT. “ But I’m gonna get life sentence, or the chair. And I don’t think you’d want that? Right? ” Eyes flick over her. “ Nowhere to get your kicks with no one on the wrong side of town to throw money at, right? ”

he hates this. hates lying to the people he loves. but it’s safer, that they don’t know what he gets himself into. that he’s self-destructing and getting worse by the day. he paints a smile on his face, nodding. “ alright, i’ll cut back, i promise. ” the lie stings in his chest, but it comes out easy, just like all of his lies do. it’s second nature now. if it’s what he has to do, to keep them at bay, he’ll do it. he’d do anything to protect sawyer and sienna ━ even if he was protecting them from himself. “ no ? saw, you know i’m not … gonna give you grief or anything. i’m just checking in. ” a beat. “ just wanna know that you’re okay. ” another beat, and he pulls his hand back. “ no, i don’t. i’m fine with just ice, sawyer. i can’t ━ i can’t afford a hospital bill anyways. just give me some ice and i’ll be good. i have an ace bandage in the bathroom. ” 

Annoyance flickers across her face, and arms are crossed over her chest — immediately on the defense, ready to argue. It was the way she WAS, and family was no exception. If anything, the amount of dedication she had for her siblings was what increased it. She knew what was right, what was best for them. And not listening was never an option. “ I just want what’s BEST for you, Sawyer. And that’s not — HERE! ” There’s a semblance of honesty that trickles out next, however she tries to suppress what her objections are really about. “ I just … don’t want you to get stuck here, you know? ” Like I did, is the part that’s unspoken. She questions if Sawyer has the same insatiable sort of hunger for moving on that she does. Bigger, better, non-Sheffield things. Maybe their lack of similarities is a wider chasm than she originally thought. 

There was nothing, REALISTICALLY, that he could offer in return. His job ( or at least, the one he was PRETENDING to have ) didn’t have the same lucrative measures that Oliver’s did. While he could certainly afford to pay her, or at the VERY least get her the requested six packs, it still feels as if his friend is getting the rough end of the deal. Chivalry, or merely solid friendship, perhaps BOTH — but he shakes his head. “ Let me pay half. And get you the six packs. Friends and family discount, I get one of the beers too. ” He sticks his hand out, cementing the idea that this is his deal. Take it or leave it, Hyung. 

he’s lucky, really, to have the sort of relationship he has with both of the alvarez women. with ava, it’s one of trust that borders on fatherhood, a tendency to want to jump to protection before anything else. with odette, it’s … something else entirely. they’d known each other for most of their lives ━ he’d been in love with her for almost as long. it was trust but taken to another level, an underlying understanding of who they both were as people. they saw both the good and the bad of one another, and yet here they were ━ still part of one another’s lives. he knows what pushes her buttons, and how to change topics with her like the wind changes direction. it’s why he switches to talk of drinks and mundanity, rather than letting her thoughts linger on daughter who mirrors her mother in so many ways neither of them would be willing to admit. “ bit dramatic, don’t you think ? who’ll get you drinks then ? ” tone is mocking, and words are called to her from the other room. where she’s dramatic, he’s logical ━ the two of them making for opposites, which then makes them the perfect fit for one another, though he’d never say it out loud. they work in harmony, her dramatics quelled by his logistics. it just … works. he seats himself back on the couch, kicking feet up onto the table with a sigh. “ thank you ━ i try my best, to bring humor to your life. ” a beat, and he gives her a faux scowl. “ if you want me to be any sort of a butler, o, you better get to paying me. ” it’s paired with a snort, and he takes a sip of his own drink.

SHOCK. The first, primary emotion that’s elicited from Ava. She almost sputters, the words sorry something she hadn’t expected. Immediate acceptance is tempting, especially considering her own apology had preceded it — but she ponders for a moment, looking at her mother through widened eyes. She grants it. “ I know, ” She says finally, gaze cast downward instead of directly seeking eye contact. The two are more alike than either of them would like to ADMIT, headstrong and unable to admit their own fault in a given situation. Unsure if it’s a byproduct of how she was raised, or merely the apple not falling far from the tree, she shuffles awkwardly before making her way over to the couch. “ I really am sorry. Next time, I’ll skip for something that’s more worth it. ” She flops down next to her mother, head pressed against shoulder. “ Like if they’re giving away free Slurpees at 7-11. Or if I see a stray dog in the parking lot, and I need to smuggle it home in my jacket. ” Smile is soft, and indicates that the scenarios ARE in jest — though she can’t exactly say she wouldn’t skip out on gym class in those circumstances. “ I love you, mom. Just … ” Voice is lowered, with a cursory glance towards the kitchen. Silence gives her the go-ahead.  “ Don’t let Kai see, or he’ll make me pose for celebratory forgiveness pictures. AGAIN. ”

Emma scoffs halfway through her next sip, nearly choking on her drink. “ Okay, OUCH. I know guys and girls can be friends. ” A pause. “ I’m just friends with Mickey … now. And I’ve always been just friends with Jack. ” Emphasis is given on the latter half, considering the first doesn’t give her much ground to stand on. One for two is kind of a shitty average, but she digresses. NOW: focus is on her friend, and thank GOD for that, considering Emma’s own romantic history ( or lack thereof ) gives her more headache than anything else. She knows better than to press further, but with Odette’s own comment rubbing her the wrong way — and the social lubricant that was liquor making conversation easier, she continues. “ Whatever. Sure. BROTHER. All I’m saying is that if you send Ava off to summer camp or something, it’s gonna be a little less All in The Family and a little more Bachelorette, you know? ” 

wry smile, and she shakes her head. “ we both know that’s not true, mick. i knew you had a girlfriend, when it all started, and i kept going. GOD, i even became her friend while sleeping with you. you’re not the only one to blame. and i can’t let you ━ i can’t let you try and take it all on yourself. i mean, the town already kinda decided my guilt anyways ━ can’t change that. ” shoulders rise and fall in a gentle shrug. yeah, maybe he was the one who’d instigated the whole thing, who’d sought out a way to ruin his relationship with emma, even if it wasn’t a conscious decision. but she’d gone along with it, befriended his girlfriend, and made a home for herself right in the middle of the two of them. she was as much to blame as he was. fingers run through the ends of blonde hair as she tries to busy them, anxiety picking at her slowly. “ it wasn’t, mick. it’s not your fault i’ve blamed myself, either. ” pause. “ it was easier this way. no need to add ties to places i don’t belong, anyways. i made my bed years ago, it’s time i lay in it. ” expression is soft ━ she’s accepted this as her fate.

Eyes roll, but there’s little she can do to react NEGATIVELY to him, considering the fact that a second more drawn away from him and she’d end up bottoms up on the ice. “ PRETTY COOL? Alright, Degrassi, I’m aboot to get a red card for beating you up. ” She’s sure red cards are in hockey, not just soccer. Pretty sure. Emma would make an attempt to dole out a playful SMACK as promised, but again … letting go still isn’t a viable option. Movements made with her own skates are minimal, merely scooting along as the older does all the real work. “ Whatever, Mick, you can do moose calls and ice skated out of the womb, maple syrup in your BLOOD and all that. ” She’s noticed now a five year old has lapped them, and half of her is tempted to do as several preschoolers have done and SQUAT on the ice, refusing to move. Immature, maybe, but closer to the ground, less likely to fall. She glances at him out of the corner of her eye, staying rigid and unturned in fear she’ll TOPPLE. However, there’s still the semblance of a smile on her face. “ But I’m from Missouri, okay? The Ozarks. Not the NORTH POLE. ”