Snippet #2821877

Erin didn't exactly know how long she had been on the back patio for, but it was long enough for her to have gone through two full cigarettes. Her confrontation with Lauren in the hallway had left her feeling more angry and confused than she had originally anticipated. But, here she was. Trying to calm her nerves as she looked down at the cigarette she had in her hand currently. The golden burning embers were growing closer to her finger tips. She could go for a third but, Erin knew she had enough. Taking one final drag from the mostly finished cigarette butt, and crushed it in the ashtray that was off to her right.

Erin shook her head as she combed her fingers through her dark brown hair. Erin shouldn't have let Lauren get to her as much as she did. Her hands were still shaking a bit. Clambering her hands together in front of her for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she turned on her heel, her boots just barely squeaking against the floor beneath her. Leaning against the railing, Erin's eyes scanned through the glass pane window that led into the living room. Trying to figure out what she could do now. No one seemed of interest in that moment, before those all too familiar blond locks caught her attention.

Combinng her fingers through her hair once more, Erin straightened and patted down her clothes before walking back into the living room. Pausing in the threshold for a moment. Clearing her throat nervously before she walked over to Livvy. Erin gave her a shy smile before looking around for a moment. "Now a bad time or-?" she questioned, not sure if Livvy was waiting on someone else or she was going to occupy her time elsewhere. Erin would understand regardless of what Livvy may have wanted at that moment. Erin simply just wanted to check up on her friend again, especially after having confronted Lauren and spent some time away before finally coming back. Couldn't have been more than fifteen, maybe twenty minutes, right?

Evie had just vacated the seat beside her when she heard that familiar voice again. She beamed at her, doing much better than she had been when Erin had last found her. Talking to Evie had helped a lot. She was excited for the projects they had discussed. And so, she beamed up at Erin. ”No, now is great!” She gave the seat beside her a pat.

Once Erin was seated, she placed a hand on her arm, getting her attention and proceeded to gush about the channel she and Evie had talked about. ”Evie had an amazing idea, Erin! She recommended I start a youtube channel where I could do speed painting and art tutorials! Won’t that be amazing! Imagine the exposure? The commissions!” She gave her friend’s arm a soft squeeze before realizing she was just rambling on about herself. She let go, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ”Sorry. You know how I am when I’m excited. I’m… better now. Talking to Evie helped.Thank you. For earlier I mean.”

Erin couldn't help but smirk a bit when Liv said that no was fine, and she found herself quickly sitting down beside her friend. Keeping her eyes on the blond the entire time as she spoke, a small smile still remaining all the while. Listening patiently the entire time she spoke, nodding along. A soft chuckle escaped her lips with how excited Livvy sounded, "It does sound pretty amazing, I won't lie. And you would for sure be great at it, trust me!" Erin said as she flashed a smile in Livvy's direction, gently placing a hand on her knee. "Your art's always been some of my favorite anyway, so...I have no doubt you'd be able to go far with that, trust me."

She couldn't help but give a small shrug when Livvy apologized, not having seen a reason for anything to be forgiven. Erin liked hearing how excited Livvy would get, talking about her hobbies. It just further helped prove that Livvy felt comfortable enough with Erin to talk about it freely. Something she always wished people could do. Another small chuckle was heard as Erin nodded, "Oh there's no need to thank me, I just...Did what anyone would do, ya know?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow. "You're my friend I...I wouldn't have done anything differently. You know that, right?"

Livvy’s smile softened, warmth filling in her eyes. She placed a hand on top of Erin’s where it rested on her knee. ”It means a lot to hear that from you. That you like my art so much I mean.” She looked down a little. ”Sometimes I struggle with feeling like my art is any good. I do think that having a muse, a… someone to create for and to use as a model that I care about.” She gave Erin’s hand a small squeeze.

”And I know. I feel bad that you had to come rescue me… again--when you should be enjoying the party, but I’m grateful for you. You’ve always come to my rescue.” She tilted her head, uncertainty crinkling her brow. ”You know I’d do the same for you, right? You need me, I’m there.”

Erin grinned cheekily as Livvy mentioned how much it meant to her, and how she often struggled to find her art as good as people said it was. "Oh please...Your art is some of the best, you shouldn't need other people's opinions to validate you." Erin said softly, looking down for a moment. "And uh..." she cleared her throat as Erin leaned back a bit, "You do have one hell of a great model, if I do say so myself." Erin flashed her friend a wink for a moment, before straightening up a bit again.

There was a brief pause between the two after Livvy spoke up again. Erin gave another shrug once more. Not exactly sure how to take what was said to her. Erin bit her bottom lip for a moment as she thought, taking a deep breath as she did so, before speaking up. "Really, Liv it...It's no problem, I mean it." her tone was genuine and soft. "For as long as I can remember I've always fought for other people...Never been a reason to change that, especially since..." her voice trailed off for a moment.

Clearing her throat with a small cough as she looked off to the side. Even now, simply referencing what happened with her brother was harder than Erin anticipated. She looked back over at Livvy giving her a small smile, "-And I know you would...I think it's why I-" Erin stopped herself, before she could say anything stupid. "Just uh...You mean a lot to me, ya know? So...Like...I always got you, is what I'm trying to say, I guess. You ever need or want, anything, I'm there.." she said with a small nod.

The softness of Erin’s tone sent goosebumps prickling up her arms. It was rare for Erin to be this vulnerable with people. She’s always cared fiercely for those she deemed…worthy of that care and attention. And Livvy was always amazed that she was one of those people. She could see Erin was struggling with something. And, in her Livvy way, she reached up with a hand cupping Erin’s cheek in her palm. ”Everything alright? You seem… Something’s bothering you.” Her blue eyes scanned Erin’s face, looking for any sign or tell to clue her in to what’s bothering her friend.

Erin's eyes had more or less found them anchored onto Livvy the moment she felt contact on her cheek. Her heart managed to skip a beat for just a moment before shifting a bit on the couch. Silence hung between the two of them for another moment as Erin tried to think of something to say. Her eyes scanned over Livvy before sighing a bit, "Just...Just a lot, ya know?" she gestured to her own head for a moment with her right hand, before shaking her head. "...Mainly Lauren getting in my head as well after I spoke with her and just...I dunno.." Erin shrugged a bit, not wanting to overshare in case all it did was worry Livvy more, as well as being uncertain of what she was even feeling at that moment.

Erin’s delayed response left her questioning the touch, but when she finally gave a response, Livvy gave a small knowing smile. “No matter how hard we try, she always seems to find that something that gets to us, huh?” She dropped her hand, running it down her arm until she could hold onto her hand. ”I’m here if you need to talk about anything, but I will tell you. Whatever she’s doing to get to you, even if it’s true, she’ll get what’s coming to her. Karma always comes back around. And...” she gave a small squeeze, ”No matter what it is, you matter and everything will be alright.”

Erin gave a small, curt nod as Livvy reassured her, as well as giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Which Erin returned in kind, gently rubbing her thumb against Livvy's hand. There was once again another moment of silence before Erin found herself able to speak again, "Yeah...I...I do. Just...I should have made her leave the moment I saw her get here...I...I'm sorry." her tone was low, but entirely genuine as she spoke. "I can't help but feel like what happened was cuz I didn't do anything...I'm sorry, Liv."

Livvy felt a crack form in her heart at the guilt her friend felt. ”Oh, Rin. That wasn’t your fault. She would’ve found some way to get back in or a different time to torment all of us. It’s what brings her pleasure.” She attempted some levity in a dirty joke as she said, ”I doubt she’s any fun in the bedroom.” She waited to see if her joke landed before giving her friend another squeeze. ”The only people I blame for this is Lauren and myself for letting her get inside my head. And mostly Lauren. You’re one person. You can’t be everywhere at once. Besides, I highly doubt she’d listen to you. I think we’d have to all team up to get her to leave us all the hell alone.” She sighed.

Erin slowly nodded as Livvy spoke, but slowly shook her head in distaste of the word used in accompaniment with Lauren. "Yeah no thanks-" Erin interjected with a tone of disgust. Allowing Livvy to continue. Immediately feeling her skin crawl at the next part, "Okay okay, how about we don't talk about her anymore? Okay, thanks?" Erin said with an overdramatic but clearly playful tone.

Shaking her head in disbelief of her friend's joke. "Eh, even then...Don't blame yourself. One day she's gonna get kicked off her high horse, and we're all gonna be able to revel in it so...How about we just say fuck it and enjoy ourselves, hm?" Erin asked with an eyebrow raised. "Don't need to continue letting that sour bitch ruin everyone's night."

Livvy smiled, and gave a nod. She reached with her free hand for her water bottle she had placed onto the coffee table. She unscrewed the cap and raised it between them. ”To ignoring the Fire Breathing Bitch Queen and enjoying the rest of our night?” She raised an eyebrow in question.

Erin grinned and nodded at her friend's comment, "The very Queen Bitch Tits? Yeah I'm good with that." she replied all too casually. She leaned back a bit, her eyes scanning the room again before looking at Liv, "You sure you're okay though?" the look on her face was genuine, even meeting her eyes. "Cuz you know that's all that matters..." Erin cleared her throat once more, "You being okay, I mean."

Livvy continued to smile and nodded again. ”Absolutely sure. Evie helped a lot and you being here to check in on me has definitely gotten me back to my almost normal self.” She eyed her friend for a moment. ”Are you feeling a little better now too?”

Erin nodded solemnly as Livvy spoke, giving her a gentle nod. Erin gave a small shrug in response, "I guess...?" she answered back honestly. Erin sighed as she clasped her hands together in front of her, "I'll be fine just...In time. I'm a big girl, I can handle myself." she flashed Liv another small wink as well as gently nudging her arm with her own. "Or we can both be messes together by the time this is over, who knows." Erin jested for a moment. That was until something, or more so someone had caught her attention immediately. Erin’s raised a worried eyebrow, before looking back at Livvy, ”I...I’m gonna go check on her real quick, I’ll be right back, yeah?” Erin said before getting to her feet and weaved through the crowd of people. Just barely being able to keep her eyes trained on her target as she passed through the bodies of people.

Evie was making a beeline for the door, weaving her way through the crowd and not caring if she collided with anyone as she left. She needed to get out of there, she needed to get out as soon as possible. She felt a hand on her arm and physically recoiled. Her heart sank as she saw it was Erin. She could practically hear Lauren’s words in her head. Good to know your “new friends” care about you so much. The look on Erin’s face as she looked at Livvy said everything. Evie wasn’t sure she could look at Erin right then, because she knew she’d end up searching for that same softness when Erin looked at her, and she doubted she’d find it.

She forcibly pulled her arm away. “I can’t do this,” she said, finally whirling around to look at Erin. “I won’t be used as a tool to play games, and I don’t intend on being a part of any of those games. I’ve had enough of people messing me around for a lifetime. So… I’m sorry, but I can’t do… whatever this is,” she said, more anger and hurt in her voice than she had meant. And then she just turned and walked away, keeping her head down as the tears began to burn.

Erin was only able to look at Evie in confusion. What the hell got her so worked up like this? That was until she explained she wouldn’t be a part in anyone else’s games. A genuine look of worry overcame Erin, her eyebrows knitting together, the in-curl of her bottom lip as Erin felt her teeth bite them anxiously. And her stomach feeling like it plummeted a thousand feet. Erin was anchored in place as Evie turned around one final time, turning her back on Erin and walked away.

Everything went silent, as if everything was suddenly submerged under water. The music that played overhead was muffled and drowned out, like she was swimming. Her body felt sluggish and heavy, and her head began to pound with an excruciating headache. Erin managed to push her way through the crowd and into the hallway, stumbling as she supported herself against the wall. Pushing herself to her room. I need to find it- she thought to herself. Erin attempted to open her bedroom door. Locked again. Who else was hooking up in her own damn room again? As if catching Damien and Gabriella earlier wasn’t bad enough. Ugh. She felt nauseous. For what felt like a few minutes, she simply stood near the door. But finally, turning on her heel, she attempted the bathroom. Also locked. Groaning angrily, Erin pushed herself out of the hallway, holding onto the wall as she made her way out.

She just needed to get away, she thought. Erin fumbled her way to the back patio, looking around as she dodged looking anyone in the eye. Before walking over to the corner of the patio, pushing her back up against it, and sat there. She just needed to calm down. Breahe. In. Out-