you paint dreamscapes on the wall.

james: old feelings, huh?

james: are there any other kind, though

wes: lord if you weren't a lesbian you'd be a dad. but I guess both have the same energy? have I come onto something?

wes: gah. why can't I just let things go y'know? we're just both back for summer it's not anything special.

“Like honey,” she says through a smile, gently kicking his ankle under the table. Before she’d left for Lake Wisteria she’d told herself their thing, whatever it was, was over. It wasn’t fair of her to keep him on her hook when he could be off with someone better. Someone good like him. But she never could resist him, and his text had her forgetting all the promises she’d made to herself. “Looking well, why so formal?” she laughs, reaching across the table to steal his mug of coffee, “But you are, too.” 

.

She had always brought a smile to his face that was effortless. Somehow in traversing his adulthood, she made him feel like that teenage boy again who was lucky enough to get the attention of the popular girl at school. It was what kept on bringing him back to her, it was an unfathomable energy, something he could only attribute to Inez herself. “I’m not sure. Doesn’t suit me, does it?” He chuckled, relaxing a little in her presence. “Thanks.” He felt the heat rising to his cheeks, glad he didn’t visually blush so easily. It was her, it was always her. “So how long are you back this time?”

– ☁

“Not sure I’d call Boston home,” Miles pointed out, rubbing his chin for a moment. He looked into Wes’s basket and sighed softly. “You came straight to the grocery? Seems a little weird,” he spoke honestly. This was the last place he ever wanted to be, let alone after traveling. 

“Boujee,” Miles noted, brow furrowing a little at the idea of a sister school, not to mention Germany. It had been a long time since he’d been out of the country. He’s pretty sure his passport found a new home at the bottom of the bay. “Like I said… helping my mom and dad with some work they asked me home for. Do you need me to repeat it a third time?” 

.

“Not exactly. I’ve been home but my mom needed me to get a couple of things, so...” His voice trailed off, it wasn’t easy forcing himself into conversation Miles, a guy who he had to put in extra effort to get anything out of that wasn’t just a sneer most of the time.

“Oh yeah I saw on the group chat.” He nodded, the information having slipped his mind in not checking his phone as much as his peers, he supposed. “How long are y’here for?” Like getting blood from a stone.

when wes pulled away, theo brought himself into a sitting position, rubbing the palms of his hands on his eyes to wake himself up. “ you know, believe it or not, my dream wake-up call did not have you in it, “ he teased, shifting over to make more room for his friend. he sighed when wes brought up the fact that they wouldn’t be in the same town again like this for a while, returning the mock pout that his best friend had put on. “ well, damn, how could i turn down someone else paying for my breakfast? “

“It should. I’m a delight.” He teased right back, glad to be in the company of his best friend again, even if he were only halfway conscious. “Nice. Are you still at Big Breakfast guy at Diner 22? Because even with my health kick I’m craving that bacon. They just don’t do it the same in LA. Something different about that hometown grease.”

her phone buzzed, but she ignored it - there was a shadow behind the shades of her window that stole her attention in the moment - and a familiar one at that. pulling the window up harshly ( it hadn’t been opened in a while , only during her rare visits ), a tiny smile immediately tugged at her lips as she made a funny face at the other. “you know, i get the whole nostalgic thing—maybe,” stella spoke under her breath while climbing out on to her roof - just a few short feet from the house next to her & where her old friend sat, “but doing this whole reunion thing on ground could be a lot easier. and more comfortable.” wesley was a face that stella had decided to keep in touch with throughout her escaping of lake wisteria ( far and few between ), and never regretted doing so. she was genuinely happy to spend time and would miss their hang-outs during summer & their long drives to meet in cali after his big move to the other side of the world. “i will say it’s a first that you’re the one to supply the ‘ goods ’ though, and that - i can get behind.” a small chuckle left her lips before asking with jest, “so have you picked out what our apartment is going to look like in europe yet ? i’ll need a nice view over the city. and a cafe right downstairs.” 

“Look, I’m single and I have nobody else to direct my romance to. Accept this loving gesture, dang it.” He gave her a wry smile as Stella joined him for the first time in a long time in their childhood home. Sure they had kept in touch being in the same state, picking up exactly where they leave off every time, but there was something nice about being where it all started. It was comforting surrounded by the friendly ghosts of years past. “I’m a big boy now, see.” Wes chuckled as he took out a pre-rolled joint and a lighter before handing it over for her to do the honours. “I might be a big boy but not that big. There’s a nice cafe downstairs though so you got half of it right. A lil nervous about living with people I haven’t met before, but I guess we’re all in the same boat.” He mused before moving to sit nearer to her for convenience’s sake.

james: small town potatoes isn't a terrible band name, either

james: now there's a dream menage a trois. where'd you guys go?

wes: you're a beautiful potato. like a sweet potato.

wes: we're gonna have to coin toss it.