starletwritesâ:
to some extent, though heâd never completely admit it, angel loves hearing himself talk. so the fact that she humors him, acts even the least bit interested in his tales of an inner-city hippie make him like her, just that much more. she didnât yet fully embody the pompous air that surrounds them, it doesnât emanate from her and stink up the room like that old lady white diamond perfume that doesnât come out of this shirt post-shift no matter how many times he runs it through the wash. unlike her man, who in his opinion was too far gone, there was something about her that was still real. Â
âcourse notâ he chuckles, suspects that sheâs been cute all her life. one of those girls that somehow evades the awkward pre-pubescent phase. but heâd be lying if he said he wouldnât get a kick out of a picture with braces, or dorky glasses, or her rocking a pair of brightly colored skinny jeans with converse all the way up to the knees. but maybe theyâd save the embarrassing photo exchange for the next time her boyfriend fiancĂ© stands her up at his own restaurant.Â
his grin grows twice the size as her story continues, and he tries to paint the picture for himself, poofy princess dress and all. has only ever seen that kind of thing on tv, where girls get dressed up and basically compete to be the prettiest. âoooh, not the carebearsâ he doesnât try to the stifle the laugh that bursts as her story concludes, even claps a little, surprised at the commitment. âwell at least you kept it going. my ass wouldâve been off the stage asap. but i think itâs cool you used to tumble. iâve always wanted to know howâcould probably use it in some of my dances and shit. âŠthink you couldâ?â before he can get the words out the air changes, dishes clank faster, conversations lull, eyes point in a certain direction. he looks up to see him approaching, cutting their fun short, bringing him back to realityâjust a little.Â
âsweetheartââ the boss man greets his lady divine, placing a chaste kiss against her cheek. âmy meeting with the gentlemen that own the space on king street ran late, but weâre in talks to break ground for a separate location by juneâ his breath smells like whiskey, they went out for drinks after in celebration but he neglects that minor tidbit. itâs just then that he just barely acknowledges angelâs presence, sends a dismissive glare in his direction, and as quickly as he appeared, angel waves a small goodbye to miss amelia.Â
A small part of Amelia had missed this, just a light hearted conversation and laughs. No mention of business or wealth, instead swapping childhood stories. It was refreshing, a change of pace from what she had become accustomed to. And watching Angel talk so animated, not caring how he looked or sounded, she missed it even more. For a while she was used to that, just being open and honest. Never worrying about what people thought or how they reacted to what she had to say. Lia was always the girl who spoke first, and thought second, it was her norm. But after a few years in the big leagues, she had lost her touch and became more self aware of her words.
âIt wouldâve been ridiculous, I learned the ways of curling irons and straighteners at a young age. Also learned straighteners didnât work on sexuality at a quick age as well,â she joked, and a small laugh bubbled from her. But the fashion choices she made didnât get all to grand until middle school, and even then they werenât exactly the fashion trends of the time but at least she was matching the colors finally.
A grimace appeared on her face as she laughed, the image clear as day in her head. Lia was pretty positive her mom had a video somewhere of the tragic event, but she also couldnât remember the last time she spoke to her mom. âIt was,â a pause as the thought of the right adjective. âEmbarrassing, but also taught me at a young age that I was able to just push through I guess,â Nodding along with the his statement, âI would-â began to leave her lips before she felt the atmosphere thicken around her. The dinging of dishes being cleared faster, a slight squeaking from the cleaning rags on the glasses at the bar, and a sigh from her lips as her conversation was ended and the explanation sheâs heard over and over ready to hit her ears.
A soft smile on her lips as he pecked her cheek, turning her attention from the man in front of her and turning towards the man on her side. âIâm glad you guys have finally figured that plan out, it seemed like it was never ending. Hopefully the blueprints and planning will go smoothly,â ignoring the notes of whiskey hitting her senses, and trying to relax into his presence. The wannabe heiress in Lia coming out to play once more, and only a flicker in her stature as Angel walked away from the couple.
izzyindieâ:
She could see how off Kai looked, hell she looked the same underneath all he carefully placed makeup, but Vanessa couldnât find it within herself to find empathy. She wasnât there, but she had spent her ow time beating herself up literally and metaphorically trying to deal with it all. âStop it,â Vanessa replied firmly. âIâve been dealing with your bitchinâ and moaninâ for the past two weeks and Iâm sick of it. You know what it means to be a part of this family, heartbreak or not. If youâre not going to act accordingly, donât come.â
Right away Vanessa heard hints of their motherâs Souther draw in her voice, but she immediately shook it off; a face resembling their fatherâs apathy taking its place. âNo one is going to care that Mama died after this. People are going to assume we lost our mother to gang violence, drugs, or that sheâs doing time. So either honor Mama now or spend the rest of your life ruthlessly defending her. Either way youâre making an enemy of yourself in your home. She wouldnât want that.âÂ
Once their eyes met, Vanessa knew she had to hope strength. Though her eyes were blood shot, anyone who knew her not a singular tear was actually shedââjust rosy cheeks and slightly slowed movements were her guide. She followed in line, taking her place as the middle child between her brothers.Â
âYouâre going to regret this,â she whispered.
âPart of this familyâ he repeated back to himself as he spoke, a phrase he began getting used to hearing. Anytime he disagreed with a simple statement now, it was seen as disobeying his father and hed get the same lecture on how if he was a âpart of the familyâ then he would do as his older siblings did. Which in Kais mind, meant following along like a little puppy and hanging onto his every word. âYoure right I forgot mourning and recovery had a time limit, my apologies for burdening the great Vanessa Montgomery who tells people she has one brother,â And even at his age, he was as individual as they came, and to much of a mommas boy to worry about being in his fathers good graces. He knew he was always protected no matter how angry his father got, but now? He was out in the open, ready for the hunting and no one in his family or their friends were there to protect him and have his back, âeasy for you to say,â slipped through his lips before he had the time to process his thoughts.
âAh yes, the police chiefs wife in jail, doing drugs, or involved with a gang. Thatll really seal his legacy huh?â He hissed out before sighing for a moment, rubbing his face roughly. âLook, you keep up whatever picture perfect appearance you think you need to have. Unlike those two, and clearly yourself, I dont care if i show emotion. Everyone has an emotion, and everyone shares it in their way. Unfortunately for myself, I have three stone faced people surrounding me. Im gonna look out of place regardless if I speak or not, Id rather save myself the knowledge of knowing everyone saw me sobbing at my mothers coffin,â
He smiled and shook hands of the people who went by, nodding at some of words given his way. Already feeling to small for the group around them and wanting to slink to the corner with his mom, but unfortunately this would become his new normal. Being in the middle of the attention given to the Montgomery, regardless if they all knew the truth or not.
âHave you even thought to ask me what I want to do to honor Momma, or are you to busy pleasing dear old dad to care?â He whispered, before smiling at the gentleman in front of him.
If Maddy finds out, sheâs gonna spend the rest of her life trying to kill me. I know. But sheâll actually kill you.
izzyindieâ:
âI prefer your mouth closed,â Luke rolled off his tongue in indifference. It wasnât a secret that Luke wasnât the most progressive thinking when it came to women, but he what he lacked in nuisance he made up in treatment. In the same way he thought of women traditionally, he understood his role as a man traditionally as well. He only nodded, reaching besides here and purposely brushing his hands against her bare thigh to get passenger door holder. âUppers, downers⊠I know a guy.â He let the small cigar holder he was reaching for fall into Liaâs lap before starting up the road. âAnd what am I supposed to think? You listen to hardcore rap or punk?â
âBut thereâs no fun in that,â she pouted, rolling her eyes. Slowly realizing it was gonna be a bigger effort on her part to get what she wanted. Luckily for her she was able to play up the innocent but not so innocent card well, in more ways than one. Knowing that different guys wanted different things, she learned ways to adapt to the different types of people. Watching his hand move across her thigh, the slight brush bringing a small warmth to her. Inspecting the case that was placed on her lap for a moment, âI know a few guys, donât like keeping all my business in one place,â she shrugged, popping it open and a smile tugging to her lips. âThe All American has a dirty little secret, love to see it,â Before finally going to her phone and clicking shuffle play on her playlist, âI listen to a little bit of everything honestly, but certain artists I only prefer few or limited songs,â
It was a last minute decision to throw the party, his parents sneaking out just for the night to some hotel downtown. It was a rare occurrence for it to get held somewhere new, let alone the Dallas household. Anyone who I knew the family would agree it was once in a blue moon Dallas managed to get his parents out and keep his sister quiet. His eyes straining to the shorter girl, she intrigued him more than the other girls around the school. The girl who lived just around the corner, seeing her walking down the street with a smile on her face. She wasnât raised in your typical suburban home like most of Degrassi had been, a breath of fresh air for Dallas life one may say.
He watched as the bottle slowed to a stop, having to stop the small smirk that wanted to tug at his lips. Slowly standing from his spot in the circle and holding his hand out for her smaller one. Taking the few steps into the guest room.
âIâm pretty sure they start the timer, and we just enjoy each others presence in whatever form that is,â a light chuckle coming from the male, turning to face her as they spoke.
Vanessa was vibrant. Surrounded by the laughter of her friends as the bottle spun between the group. It was any typical night for Vanessa with one exception Mike Dallas was hosting, and it was his turn for Seven Minutes in Heaven. He was always the cute boy in her biology class, the show off during dodgeball, the dreamy smile that everyone wanted to dance with during Skate Night. The two hovered in similar circles and followed each other on Hastygram, but never had a real conversation face to face. So of course she was surprised once Marie told her that they were invited.Â
Eyes focused on her solo cup, she didnât notice the eyes fixated on her as the bottle stopped on her. Her cheeks flushed red, but she lifted from her stance, following the boy into one of the adjacent rooms to the family room.Â
âSo, do we start the timer or does someone out thereâŠ.?â Vanessa asked, saying something as the door shut behind them.Â