izzyindie:
“Not really into the reviews. Rather find out for myself and return the favor,” Luke smirked. The idea of reviews raised his eyebrow, but he kept a brave face. In this town, who you are and what you did matter. The town was hierarchy of personalities and the Bakers were at the top. Lia would be a political and religious liability; that only intrigued Luke more––something to sneak around, his eyes only, and still maintain peace all around. Sound like an easy year for Luke. “Appearances are everything,” he affirmed, matching the eye contact. He was swift with hiss movements, cutting the engine, and moving from his door to hers. “Don’t think too much into it. Gotta sister and a mother and a church full of Sisters’ who command respect.” he downplayed to make it seem like he was trying to be impressive.
She raised a perfectly kept brow at him, tilting her head slightly, “what a gentleman, unfortunately I’m not here for the gentle side of things,” a shrug falling off her shoulder, moving to look out the window again. While her family was big in the town, her parents helping more than one family around get off scot free, she was a different story. Falling from her spot as the favorite, she became distant, relishing in any and all alcohol and drugs she could get her hands in. Lia became more well known around the ravine, and around the degenerates of town, and slowly slipped from the hierarchy. Still keeping her place in school, never letting herself fall lower than she deserved there. But she didn’t care what the adults had to say, they weren’t the ones she had to interact with day in and day out. Instead taking a line here or there, maybe pop a pill when she felt like it, but always had a water bottle of vanilla rum and Dr Pepper, and a blunt or dab pen handy in her purse. Those were the secrets no one else around school knew, the ones she held close to herself for reasons unknown to her. “So I’ve been told once her twice,” Lia knew the bakers reputation around town, but she never got close enough to see it for herself. After her fathers diagnosis she wasn’t one for God, or believing in a higher power. She just existed and let the world do as it did, never worrying about the consequences of what she was doing; yet still being semi aware of herself. Watching as he moved around the car, and slipping out of the seat, a soft click as her heels touched pavement. “Don’t all women? Commanding and deserving, however, two different things,”
starletwrites:
fiancé. the word rings in his ears no sooner than he can spot the glacier poised perfectly on one of her dainty fingers like it was made for her. as far as he knows, it was. and it immediately occurs to him that if he thought this girl was out of his league before, she’s light years away by now. if there’s one thing he’s learned in this life it’s that so many things are purely transactional. girls with the looks to land the big ballers do, and they don’t look back. hell, he wouldn’t either if it guaranteed a rock the size of an ice-skating rink and a life most can only dream of.
but he considers her, the way her lip curls just slightly at his lame joke, and he’s not ready to dub her a gold-digger just yet. “she smiles” he comments the minute her expression breaks, eyes transfixed on the dimples in her cheeks, the deepest he’s ever seen in real life. and he can’t help but feel just a little proud to have made her smile like that. even if this is the only interaction they’ll ever have, he can walk away with the consolation that he could at least make a dull evening less so. he’s always prided himself on his ability to lighten the mood, even at his own expense. maybe leaned into it a little too much back in high school, when he got suspended for burping the pledge of allegiance over the intercom and setting off firecrackers in the boy’s bathroom. but since his nuts dropped and the semi-maturity kicked in, he’s been able to find a healthy balance between class clown and complete idiot.
“one rose for every minute you’ve been sitting here, it’s only right–” and he doesn’t disclose this information to his usual patrons, but she seems about thirty years younger, and ten times cooler than most of the people that frequent this place. “you know–” he speaks an octave lower, “if you’re ever looking for a little escape i happen to specialize in herbal refreshments. good shit too, straight from cali” he brags a little, plays around with so many things but never about his premium supply.
leaning over onto his elbows, he smiles a tiny smile when she butters him up, can’t tell if she’s being genuine or just blowing smoke, but he prefers to be kept guessing anyway. he shakes her hand, fancy rock and all, and thinks fast for some excuse to keep the conversation going. “so miss amelia…you know gut-spilling is pretty customary to the bartender/client relationship and this place doesn’t close for another half hour…story for a story? i know you got some crazy ones, don’t hold out on me girl”
Lia had always hoped to become the housewife. Never having to lift a finger to do anything, and being able to infinitely shop as much as she would like. Her closet already a prime example of such, everything she dreamed of and more. And yet, she still didn’t feel complete. Like something was missing, perhaps money didn’t actually buy happiness. Oh who was she kidding, it bought her happiness. But having attention from the person she loved brought her more, and as the years of gone on she found herself losing it more and more. It left her feeling conflicted, not knowing her next move.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t found herself admiring the man behind the bar before, wondering what his story was. How he ended up in such a prim and proper place, yet seemed out of place almost. She found him intriguing, always seeming to make the best with the customers despite the more savory comments made by them. He still held his cool, a small laugh and a comment from him before he began their drinks. She caught herself watching him more than she wanted to admit, the way his lips curled as he smiled, the dimples on his face just as if not more apparent as her own. But it was the humor that captured her, the playfulness in almost all his comments she had been able to hear. Whether to make someone feel better, or just to make conversation. She enjoyed the little glimpses she could get, whether her fiancé was around or not.
“Now that would surprise me, might even get lucky with that gift,” sipping her drink with a raised brow, “well well well, the dirty secret has been revealed,” shrugging ever so slightly, crossing her legs under the bar top, “but I will play along, and gladly take some of whatever you have to offer. I’m quite well versed,” knowing the amount of people their age around the place, it wasn’t the best place to sell. But then again, every so often the old rich guys would want to show off for their younger play things. Something Lia was used to in her past life, and the showing off was always worth it for her.
His hands were softer than she expected, but still had a certain roughness to them that felt good against her well manicured and moisturized hands. Adjusting her ring slightly before smirking at his words, leaning in closer as she spoke, “well that depends on which part of my life you want to hear about, I’ve been lucky to experience quite a bit in my short time of life. Some activities more illegal than the others, but all fun none the less,”
starletwrites:
“your inability to adhere to the three drink limit i imposed says otherwise” he mutters snarkily, diverting his gaze to the picturesque view below. he can dish it but very much cannot take the way she looks at him after. growing up he’d always been the golden child, leaving it to his twin to pull some heinous stunt to evoke his parent’s ire and make anything he did seem like mere child’s play in comparison. it’s made him increasingly resistant to criticism over the years. however, his ability to pass judgement holds strong. while fiona has seemingly opened herself up to the world beyond michelin stars and valets he only sinks further into it. becoming more and more like his parents by the day. lia was supposed to be his redemption. a girl, completely unlike the one’s he’d spent his life around. she didn’t grow up in seersucker skirts, with nannies, and a trust fund she’ll blow through by the time she’s 30. and he thought that’s part of what he loved about her.
“i’m not asking you to be perfect, just mindful. regardless of how far you’ve come or how well you carry yourself people take one small thing and run with it. i’m just looking out for you, sweetheart” the term of endearment he uses whenever he’s trying to reason with her. and perhaps the rationale behind his request isn’t completely unselfish, but he does know how vicious the big shots can be, doesn’t want to see her fall victim to the ruthless rumor mill.
it’s growing more apparent to him that this is an issue that won’t be solved in just one night (if ever). and the secondhand smoke, usually something that doesn’t bother him in the slightest, keeps wafting past his nostrils, aggravating him further. so he gets to his feet, signaling a retreat. “a friend of mine that was at the table tonight mentioned to me that she’d want to have you dress her for an event she has coming up…i’ll put you in contact with her tomorrow.” his tone is semi-detached as he leans against the railing, eyes cast on the toronto skyline. and maybe it’s the scotch on the brain that triggers the absentminded revelation that he was in the company of more than just his colleagues tonight, but he breezes past that minor detail, feeling the makings of a migraine beginning to thrum against his skull. “i’m going to bed, are you coming?”
“I think you forgot I’m not a little thing who drinks wine coolers for fun at the parties. I never have been, but I’m also aware of myself and what I’m doing Declan,” their lives were similar in many ways, Lia having relished in the finer things in life for most of her life. But she fell back down the ladder even faster than her parents climbed it. She discovered the darker side of life, sneaking out at 1am to go hang out with the drug dealers and teen alcoholics. Signing up for websites to make money for herself in less then safe ways, all while spiraling inside her own head. But Declan was different, raised entirely surrounded by the upper class and never straying from their values and morals. Lia had always wanted to be a part of it, to never have to worry about things, but as time went on she was questioning more and more.
“Are you looking out for me or yourself? I can handle what’s been thrown my ways, lord knows more than one rumor has flown around about me. No matter what tier of life you are on people are gonna do whatever they can to bring you down and make you look worse than them, and it’s how you handle yourself and the people closest to you having your back when push comes to shove,” she knows he has her best interest at heart, but she also doesn’t like to be protected and coddled. Lia would always rather handle her own problems, no matter how big or small, and deal with the consequences afterwards. But she appreciated his attempts none the less, but she was finally getting fed up with everything.
Heaving a sigh before she took an inhale of her blunt, her gaze taking in the skyline around her. And trying to focus on something besides her annoyance towards the male in front of her. Everything about the night finally coming to a head, and her mouth working faster than her brain as he spoke. “I thought it was just you and your colleagues? You know a couple of the guys?” Rolling her eyes, tapping the ash off the top and watching it fall apart in the glass ashtray on the table. “Send it to my assistant I have to be in the office at 5, which means I probably should take you up on that offer,” Taking a final drag of her blunt and putting it out, “this isn’t over however,”
We’re all we have left. We ought to be able to stick together against everything. If we don’t have each other, we don’t have anything.
THE OUTSIDERS 1983 | dir. Francis Ford Coppola
reading alone in your room at sunset with your windows open while the wind caresses your skin is probably the closest thing we have to a cure for the human condition
izzyindie:
“It’ll all be worth it, you know. The rest of us will be here and you’ll be living your dreams and traveling the world. Just don’t forget us small people on the way up,” Vanessa teased. “But seriously, From what I’ve seen, off day, good day, or bad day you’re still one of the best players that team is ever gonna have.” Her voice was encouraging, the natural caregiver in herself coming out the more she spoke. It was a softness, a gentleness, a subtly that most people couldn’t put their tongues on. “
And she could feel her skin getting warmer, as Vanessa closed the carpet space between them, almost wanting to hold the moment between them and allow his words to sink in. The height difference more than obvious even with them sitting down. “You may know someone?” Vanessa grinned, a small giggle escaping. She hid her excitement, but Vanessa could feel her heart pounding through her chest wanting to scream yes. “I wouldn’t pay much attention to the other players,” Vanessa spoke., words coming out before she heard herself.
Eyes wide and cheeks growing red, “Wait no, not like, cause I wanna watch you per say, more so because you’re the only one I now. Not, wait, not like I don’t wanna watch you either because I’m sure you’re great and fun to watch and….” she rambled. “I’m… gonna stop talking now.”
“I could never forget about the small town folk, especially since I see someone being there with me,” he wasn’t sure the undertones in his words. Not realizing he was thinking about her still being in his life, even if he meant one of his friends when he began his sentence he realized it didn’t stick to them. “Thank you Vanessa, that means a lot coming from someone who isn’t a puck bunny or trying to get an in,”
He watched her move closer, his instinct telling him to reach out and pull her in but he instead stood where he was his gaze drawing to her shorter form as she got closer. “There’s a possibility, I happen to know how to pull strings,” ignoring the small swell of his heart as he heard that sweet giggle coming from her mouth. And it was because of him, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
Listening in amusement as she spoke, watching and listening with his arms crossed. A soft chuckle falling from his lips before he stepped closer, “I prefer knowing your eyes are all on me, truth be told I play a little better knowing you’re there,” he spoke grabbing her around the waist, pulling her in and softly pressing his lips to hers.