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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Jul 9, 2019 22:44:18 GMT -5
Ian canted his head. “Yeah? Like what?” Ian was a smart guy, but he was also fairly clueless about others. Tori’s crush on his best friend was one such thing that had completely passed his notice. Mallory hadn't bothered to fill him in.
Just then, Mallory herself came strutting into the room. Ian took one look at her and went very still. It wasn't until she'd stopped a few feet away and put her hands on her hips that he found his voice again. “Wow. Mal, you look… amazing.”
Her cocky little smile was tinged with genuine pleasure at his words. “Thank you. I hope you complimented Tori similarly. A lot of my hard work went into her, you know.”
“Huh? Oh. Oh, yeah. I did. Compliment her, I mean.” He looked at Tori with a small frown. “I did, right?” Seeing Mal had clearly short-circuited his brain. Hehe, so it shall be. XD
Also, sorry I'm so poofy with my replies here. I'm not as ~connected~ to Mal and Ian as I am Ren. In other words, they don't talk nearly as loud as he dies, and half as much. xD
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 10, 2019 18:32:02 GMT -5
That's more than okay with me. ^^ The replies don't have to be long in order to keep things moving.
Tori nodded and went to grab her set of house keys from where they laid on the kitchen counter. It both amused her and made her uneasy how, more times than not, Mallory would take her to these parties, only to let her go home alone. Not that she would stop her from spending the night with her boyfriend or because she thought it was Mal's job to see her home safely. She was a big girl with a good ten years of self-defense training under her belt. Still, she never liked to walk home alone, especially at night. It was at those times the darkness seemed to hold all the nightmares she had been building up, waiting for her just out of her eyesight. Her mind seemed to fill with the too familiar feeling of being watched, of being hunted, to the point where she feared if she turned around, she'd find the monster of her past standing behind her once more. Of course, she didn't say anything to Mal about it. The other girl had done so much for her already. Why should she ask her to keep a constant watch over her?
She hesitated, wandering if she needed to take the pocket sized notebook with her as well, but opted out of it. If she needed, she could type out any messages on her phone. It was faster, and that's how she spoke to Cambry normally anyway. Checking to make sure she had her phone and wallet, she rejoined the two lovebirds at the door. Ready, she signed.
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Jul 10, 2019 18:53:34 GMT -5
That's true. In fact, longer posts can sometimes slow things down more than anything. xD "Perfect," Mallory sing-songed. She took Ian's hand and together they walked out to his truck. Ian opened the passenger door for Mallory, then the rear door for Tori, and once they were both in, he jogged around to the driver's side. Secodns later, they were on route, and about ten minutes after that, Ian was pulling into Cambry's driveway. There was only three other cars parked in the long drive, one of which was Cambry's own.
"Remind me again, who else is here?" Mallory asked as she climbed out of the big truck, with Ian's assistance. She was capable of many extraordinary things in those heels, but climbing down from her boyfriend's truck was just too much effort.
"Other than us and Cambry?" Ian said. He glanced at the parked cars before answering. "Looks like Jake and Pax. Maybe Jake's girlfriend. Why?"
Mallory shrugged one shoulder. "Just curious."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 10, 2019 19:35:44 GMT -5
Depends on how much really needs to be known. If it's setting up a location or backstory, it's useful. If it's described, in detail, of ho to make hot chocolate (*stares accusingly at the Charles ****ens book I was forced to read in high school*), then it's over kill. XD
For her part, Tori was just a silent passenger in the back of Ian's truck. What more could she be? So she spent the time looking at her phone, trying to make herself believe she wasn't actually feeling nervous about this whole thing. It as just a small party with friends, as she learned from Mal's question. Everyone she had seen before, though didn't know too well. She knew they weren't going to be too unpleasant company for the night. Yet, as she jumped out of the truck, butterflies were going crazy in her stomach. With nothing else to do or anything to contribute to conversation, she followed Ian and Mal to the front door.
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Jul 10, 2019 20:22:17 GMT -5
True, LOL. xD At the door, Ian knocked once loudly, then let himself in. He and Cambry grew up together; the two were as close as brothers and didn't require permission to enter each other's homes. Ian held the door for the girls, then led the way to the game room in the basement. An assortment of couches and other seats; a 72' flat screen television; a pool table; and a bar along one wall. It was the perfect hangout space, and it was the one most often used when this group of friends got together.
Jake and his girlfriend, Nicole, were seated together on the love seat. Jake had a beer in one hand, while the other was stretched out over the back of the couch behind Nicole. She was perched on the edge of the seat, showing Pax a picture on her phone. Whatever it was made him laugh so hard, he almost spilled his glass of whiskey all over himself. Cambry, lounging in one corner of the couch, rolled his eyes. "Pax, if you spill that on my recliner, you're buying me a new one."
Pax just showed him a particular finger. In doing so, he caught sight of Ian as he came to the bottom of the stairs. "Weaver!" he called in greeting, arms going up and out in a victory pose (miraculously, he managed to not spill his drink with the movement).
As the guys gathered together for their manly greetings, Mallory snatched Tori's hand and led her wide around the four men to the bar. Nicole joined them a moment later. "Hey, Mal. Long time no see," she said happily. "Tori," she added, with much less welcome. (I felt like there should be tension between Tori and Nicole; not really sure why yet. xD)
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 10, 2019 20:48:16 GMT -5
The sight that greeted them was a familiar one. This was what a regular day as like whenever they all got together. It was a picture Tori never seemed to feel like she fit into much. While no one really protested her being there, except maybe Nicole, there was a sense of division between her and the others. She also knew that it was her fault for it. Had she been able to speak, she wouldn't have alienated herself as she had. The reason she even joined Mal to hang out with them was unknown, but but felt as if she needed to. If nothing else, it served as a distraction. Her eyes found Cambry, and she instantly wished she hadn't. The butterflies were rioting now. Out of habit, the fingers of her right hand fiddled with the bracelets on her left. At least he didn't notice her right then. She didn't think she was prepared to speak to him. Instead, while he was busy greeting Ian, she gladly followed Mal to the bar. Although, she was less than thrilled to have Nicole come over to join them. In response to her greeting, Tori gave her a shallow nod that mirrored the tone Nicole had used to greet her with.
(Oh, yes, there should. I don't know why either, but now I'm wanting Nicole to make an offensive comment to Tori. thus making Tori slap her, and causing a scene. Out of anger and embarrassment, she leaves and walks into the attack that's waiting for her. Then Ren walks in, saves the day, and the fun can begin. XD)
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Jul 10, 2019 21:34:41 GMT -5
Oooh, yes. But it'll have to happen somewhere the other's aren't, cause Mallory would go after Tori if she saw/heard their spat and the slap, and then Ian would follow Mal. So I'm thinking Nicole is gonna have to corner Tori somewhere (probably one the way to/from the bathroom), and that's when it happens. ;D If Mallory noticed the tension between Nicole and Tori, she didn't comment. She just hopped up onto a bar stool beside Nicole and grinned. "Hey, hey," she called out in an over exaggerated twang. "What's a girl gotta do to get a drink around here?" she asked the boys, batting her lashes at them as they all turned to look at her.
They laughed, and then Cambry came up and moved around to the far side of the bar. He leaned on the countertop and smiled, first at Mal, then Tori. "What'll it be, lovelies?" he asked, the perfect imitation of a real bartender.
"Your strongest mixer," Mal ordered with a wink. "Shaken, not stirred."
"I'd live to be stirred by you, Mal!" Pax called out with a cackle.
Ian threw a pillow at him. "Shut it, Campbell. That's my girl you're disrespecting." He didn't sound all that put-out about the comment, though; they all knew Pax was joking, seeing as Mallory wasn't his type.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 10, 2019 21:51:50 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't see Nicole being one to risk her reputation for confronting her in front of everyone else. But you best believe she's going to be sporting a bruise when she gets back to the others. XD
Tori could never understand how Mallory could easily take command of a room, but it was a skill she was impressed by. She stayed standing as while her friend took her place on a stool and got the boys' attention. While Mal did her thing, Tori took her phone from her pocket and placed it on the bar top. With the male greetings done, someone would be over to talk sooner or later, if only Mal or Nicole one. To be prepared, she went ahead and put it in easy reach. As Cambry came over to grab them drinks, the young woman could have sworn her heart would have done somersaults if it was able to from the boy's smile alone. Offering a small smile in return, she simply nodded her head in Mal's direction, indicating she would have the same.
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Jul 11, 2019 16:24:55 GMT -5
Oh, I believe it. ;D Cam tapped the bar top. "Two mixers, coming right up."
As he turned around to make their drinks, Mallory spun around on her stool so she was facing the room. "Alright, you boys can talk to me now. Iv='ve got a drink coming to kill any headache you give me," she teased, though she did a good job sounding serious.
Jake laughed. "You're hilarious, Mal."
She gave him her best Ms. America smile. "Aw, thanks, Jakie. I try."
"Your drinks, ladies," Cambry said, placing the two glasses on the bar. He winked. "Enjoy." He grabbed his beer from where he'd placed it at the end of the bar as came back around so he could reclaim his position on the couch. Ian sat on the far end of the couch, and Mallory instantly hopped off the bar stool to join him. Of course, she snatched Tori's free hand and dragged her along too. She all but forced Tori to sit on the cushion between Ian and Cambry, and she herself sat in Ian's lap, looking very proud of herself.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 12, 2019 11:41:24 GMT -5
I can't wait. XD
While the conversation struck up around them, Tori contented herself with sipping her drink. As best as possible, she tried not to look up at Cambry too often, just enough so it didn't look like she was trying to ignore him. It was difficult, but she managed. Most of what had said were things mention many times before, mostly the banter and the jokes cracked at someone else's expense. Nothing that really concerned her, which was more than okay. The guys could get savage, even if it was all fun and games. If she took part, there was no way in knowing that she wouldn't take something serious. She tended to be a literal person. It was more amusing to be a spectator to these exchanges than to partake anyway. For a moment, she believed that maybe she could finish her drink without anyone talking to her so she could excuse herself and head back to the bar. Unfortunately, Mallory had other ideas.
Tori glanced at her friend, wandering about her choice of topic. They had already had this discussion, or something like it, back home. So why would she bring it up now? Was she hoping that someone else would weigh in on the topic? More importantly, was she hoping for Cambry to weigh in? Possibly. Yeah, I am, she signed her. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially the kind that is as far away from the city as possible. It was just far more peaceful than anything around here. However, she kept her replies short due to the fact that Mallory would be the only one who would have understood her otherwise. Are all the reservations made?
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Jul 12, 2019 20:40:57 GMT -5
Ditto. c; Mallory nodded. "Yep. Resos made, everything is set. But weren't you telling me about this cute guy you were hoping to bring?" There had been no such conversation, and Mal knew full well there was no cute guy either. But this was a plan she'd been trying to get Tori to try from the start: invent some awesome sounding guy and make Cambry jealous. As far as Mallory was concerned, there was no better way to gain a guy's attention than by telling him, without actually saying a word, that you were unavailable. Men loved a challenge.
Nicole let out a bark of disbelieving laughter. "Tori? Cute guy? Mal, those don't belong in the same sentence."
Mallory shot her a level look. "Shut your pie hole, Nicole," she said sweetly, "or I'll shut it for you."
Nicole raised her hands in surrender. "Hey, I meant no offense. But, uh, don't most guys need to be able to understand the girl before showing interest in her?"
Mallory opened her mouth to reply, but Ian beat her to it. He chuckled. "Of course not. Even while dating girls, we rarely understand you."
Jake raised his glass in agreement. "Cheers to that."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 12, 2019 21:20:44 GMT -5
Mal, you're an absolute genius. XD Setting things up so nicely.
Tori's face could have melted by the intensity of the blush that rose to her cheeks. This was her plan? The one she had refused to go along with on numerous occasions for the sole reason of knowing it wouldn't work? There was no other guy, not even a possible stand in that might have been used for the sake of the ruse. She had nothing to back up any claims of another guy if any one of them decided to go find him and extend the invitation to the camping trip themselves. And she hadn't even thought to let her on this little charade? Without any warning or time to prepare even a half-decent story, Mallory had thought it was a great idea to take matters into her own hands. If there had ever been a time she had wanted to kill her best friend, now was it. And Nicole as well. The jab, while an echoing of her own reasoning, infuriated her to no end, made even worse by the fact that she had said it in front of everyone. And while she appreciated the support from Ian, it did nothing to help the situation. This had definitely been a bad idea. Hoping the murder in her eyes wasn't too obvious, she tried to keep her signs as casual as possible. Mal, we'll talk about this later. As for right now, I'd appreciate it greatly if you would drop it, she told her friend. She kept the message short and brief and as dismissive as she could so they wouldn't pick up on her distress at being caught off guard. Hopefully, Mal would get her underlining message.
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