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Billie Drummer

"I bet my heart on something loud"

0 · 1,057 views · located in Smithbrook

a character in “Beautiful Lies”, as played by unicorns.are.real

Description

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Image"And now I pay the price with bitter tears"
{Get Gone | Fiona Apple}

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Name: Billie Paige Drummer
Age: 23
Gender: Cis Female
Sexuality: Bisexual
Ethnicity: Caucasian




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"I bet my heart on something loud"
{ Left With Someone Else | Gabriella Cilmi}

Appearance:
Billie is 5'6 and 130 pounds. Sure, if you ever saw Billie on her own you'd probably think she was pretty but she'd never believe it, and neither would you if you ever saw her next to her sister. Her hair is blonde, but it has always been a few shades duller than her sister's vibrant honey blonde. Billie has also always been slightly taller and more gangly than her sister. The plain sister if you will.
Nowadays, Billie's features usually look a combination of bored and annoyed. Her attitude never inviting conversation or friendliness. A lack of finance and effort usually keep her in jeans and tees.
Secret:
Billie ran-away with a guy when she was 17. It was a train-wreck of a relationship that turned into a train-wreck of a marriage and now Billie's on her own now, determined not to admit to her own failings.




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"A heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter"
{ Angry Johnny | Poe}

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Talents:
Billie has a talent for dark humor. She doesn't say much but what she does say is usually funny in a dark way. Billie is a very courageous person. Which might seem somewhat contradictory for her, but the truth is, she really does have nothing to lose. Not now and not in he past. A weird talent, but still a talent. Billie has very nice handwriting. A point of pride for her will always be getting her pen license first in her class, and ever before her sister.
Weaknesses:
Billie has a number of weaknesses, just ask her. She's awkward around new people, and thus really doesn't talk much to people she doesn't know and so can be an all round un-friendly person. Billie is also not the most graceful of creatures. Her mother always used to tell her she stomped around the house like an elephant and was always crashing into things. Another thing Billie is not so great at in maths. Numbers, statistics, and geometry, all things that go in one ear and out the other for Billie.
Fears:
Billie fears being reunited with her sister. Her whole life she was always compared to her sister and found wanting. It's the main reason she ran away, to be on her own for the first time in her life and stop playing second best. Billie also fears people finding out how badly her life has turned out. Her pride couldn't take the hit, so she'll lie and tell false stories to keep people from knowing the truth.



Billie is mostly a reserved person. When she younger it was shyness and nerves, she sat on the sidelines and tended not to talk that much. When she was in high school she developed into someone who just preferred to watch on and not be at the center of things. Billie had her small group of close friends whom she opened up to, she didn't have that drive to connect with a lot of people and have a hive of activity around her. No all grown up, Billie has taken her act up all the way up to loner and pretty much standoffish, She has practically no friends and is content. Well, at least content with not having anyone close. She can do without fake pleasantries and pretending to be friends with someone you find annoying. She'd rather people take their forced smiles elsewhere. The vibe she gives off doesn't invite people to stick around and chit chat with her. Billie was born to be a wallflower, not part of the action. She's also very independent

If you are one of Billie's few friends though you tend to get a different Billie. She drops the attitude and before all of this you would have even been treated to her smiles. Not that she would say all that much even to a friend. Billie never had that much to say, sure she'd have an inner monologue about ripping the head of the customer who didn't tip, but she's not a big sharer. She'll listen to her friends talk for hours, but Billie is more a passive participant in conversations. Of course, she isn't Billie without her small sarcastic comments. The closer you are the Billie the more sarcastic and sometimes dark thoughts inside her head about others. Most make other people laugh. The more Billie dislikes you, the more you'll receive her glares from the sideline.

Billie is a very insecure person deep down, though she's built a wall up and over that fact she it's hard to find. She exudes independence and confidence now, in a way she never did back then. Though her insecurities from high school are still there. She's just trying her best not to listen to them. She's already spent too many years of her life letting her inferiority complex to her sister rule her life and decisions. So long as she never sees Sasha again, she'll be all right.



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"I wanna kill you"
{ Gun | Scout Niblett}


History:

On the day of Billie's birth, her parents were doubly gifted with two healthy baby girls. Sasha and Billie. Sasha was born 20 minutes before Billie, that was the first time Sasha beat Billie. From then on, it was a competition between the two and Sasha never let Billie win at anything. Billie was always second best. Sasha was outgoing and charming and everyone in the neighborhood loved her, Billie was a wallflower who only had little sarcastic comments to make. Sasha was very bright and a bit of a teacher's pet where Billie was struggling in foundation maths. Sasha was the star of their basketball team, Billie spent more time on the bench than she did playing.

Billie's memories of her childhood were always spent trudging along in her sister's shadow, with some sort of gloomy expression. Billie even remembers her grade school dance in which every boy she danced with was someone her sister palmed off to her. Which is why meeting Jackson, the troubled youth from cross town was such a big moment in Billie's life. He noticed her ad picked her over her sister, and at 17 that was all she wanted. It took maybe all of two weeks for her to claim total and complete love for him. They were kids, they thought they knew everything about the world. Jackson hated his family and was always going to take off, and Billie caught so caught up in the romantic drama of it all, she jumped on the back of his motorbike and went off with him.

It was a crazy romantic blur, spending night in slimy motels and laying under trees watching the stars. On her 18th birthday, Billie and Jackson rocked up at a court house and got married. Of course, then reality set in. There were bills to pay, dinner to cook, and toilets to clean. All the great stuff about being on your own that no one ever tells you. The price of freedom. While Billie worked hard at a minimum wage diner job, Jackson seemed to never hold a job for more then a few weeks at a time. Resentment and anger brew between them.

Only a month into their marriage and almost every day ended in a screaming match. Usually followed by some passionate making up. Three months into their marriage and Billie came home from a long tiring day where a toddler threw up on her shoes to find Jackson in bed with some brunette. The fight that followed ended with knifes lodged in walls and plates smashed all about. Billie kicked Jackson out, though let him back in only four days later. The next two years saw Billie and Jackson become the most on-again-off-again married couple of all time. Their fights often turning violent, the two were always at the hospital with cuts, bruises, split lips and the works. Then Billie got pregnant. It was supposed to be the thing that saved them, made them a family. At first it did, they were happy. However, two month into her pregnancy, Billie had complications with the baby and for her own health had to stop working. Which meant bills became very tight and Jackson worked long hours. He blamed her and came to resent Billie, so the fighting started again. Billie came at him with a knife and he knocked her down through a glass table. Billie lost the baby and finally, she cut her ties with Jackson forever.

The following year has been spent working at a crummy dinner sharing a shitty apartment with two other girls.

[img]500%20px%20gif[/img]"A bitter heart eats it's owner"
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Other:

So begins...

Billie Drummer's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Sage McQueen Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Castiel O'Connor
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dialogue: #02857e | outfit: here




Alex pulled a face as he looked his reflection up and down. His shirt and trousers just seemed to make him look scrawny, and his hair was a mess- well, it wouldn't lie in the exact mess he wanted it to. He honestly would have rather stayed in the hotel room until it was time for his flight home- but this was a memorial service for Lisa. He couldn't believe she was dead. She hadn't just been popular- she'd been genuinely loved by so many people. She tutored those who struggled with school. She'd been a member of every committee going and had so often been the reason they hadn't descended into chaos. She was the one who paired up with the weird kid in the class so they wouldn't be alone or singled out by a teacher. She'd tracked down Alex after he moved away and had actually kept in contact with him- or, rather, kept messaging him, telling him about her day, and not expecting a response. And, eventually, he had messaged back.

But now, she was gone. With the police enquiry, the funeral had felt strange- nobody meeting anyone else's eyes, polite small talk the only conversation anyone made. The funeral had been strange, a mere formality. But this was voluntary, something the family genuinely wanted to do to celebrate her life. It wasn't anything religious- just something to remember her by. Had it been any other event, he would have stayed home. But not this.

His unsatisfactory appearance would have to do. Besides, most of the people there had seen him worse. He wasn't exactly the picture of health, but he'd been a hell of a lot worse the last time they'd seen him. Painfully underweight, barely able to function when sober, self-destructive, miserable... Well, okay, that last one hadn't changed that much.

He shoved his phone, hotel key, and wallet into his pocket, picking up a jacket and leaving the hotel room. As he headed for the venue, it occurred to him everyone else who could be here. Cas, Oliver, Callum... Callum. Alex still didn't like to think about him all that much. Callum had broken him and had the guts to say it was for the best. And the worst thing was, Alex had still loved him. He'd buried himself in self-destruction, because Callum had been the only person to ever stop him from completely derailing. Alex's therapist had told him multiple times that closure would probably do him good, that reaching out to Callum might be for the best. Alex had disagreed. That said, if he ran into Callum... Well, they'd just need to see what would happen. Alex was in town for another while anyway, until his parents got back from their last minute holiday abroad.

The room was starting to fill up fast, even though the service itself didn't start for another hour. There was to be a reception before and after to encourage the memory of Lisa- although Alex wasn't planning on sticking around for too long after, especially if there were a lot of familiar faces attending. He kept his head down, taking a leaflet and heading to one corner. He just wanted this to be over already.






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dialogue: #faa0fa | outfit here




They'd rebuilt the house. Somebody else lived there now and had made it their house, unrecognisable from Ellie's childhood home. Ellie was incredibly glad for that much. It made coming home so much easier- not at all like being at home. It was the town she'd grown up in, but without the painful reminders. Or, at least, most of them.

The scars wrapping around Ellie's torso were so easy to hide. They could be covered with just a dress. The fainter ones on her arms were slightly harder to cover, requiring her to wear a jacket. But even still, as she looked herself up and down, she could have easily been her old self. It was so easy to pretend that nothing had ever happened. Maybe everyone had forgotten and moved on. Maybe she could fly home in a week or two and leave this all behind for good. That thought was comforting.

As she left her hotel, she scanned the streets, watching for a familiar face. Then again, most of them were probably already at the service. She wanted to go, but she didn't want to deal with people. She was still going to be there almost an hour before the actual service or whatever it was began, but she wasn't intending on being all that social.

Nobody approached her in her short journey to the venue, something she was glad about. It was already pretty busy when she got there, which allowed her blend into the crowd pretty easily.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Sage McQueen Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Castiel O'Connor
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Dettie did not want to be here. This place held too many painful memories. That bench over there, she ate ice cream with here mother on the bench. Under that big tree Dettie had her first kiss. God. Being back was so strange. Every time she walked past a corner she expected Cas to swagger up to her, grinning his cocky grin. When she passed her old school Dettie could of sworn she saw Gemma waving at her.

It was too hard being here. She'd stay a week, maybe a week and a half then she'd go back to Australia. It would all go back to normal and Dettie could live her dull, boring life.

Entering the reception Dettie realized that maybe she wasn't dressed correctly. Wearing a leather jacket, skin tight ripped jeans and a shirt low enough to show the tattoo on her collar down wasn't really funeral material.

Oops.

She picked up a leaflet, skimming it. Hopefully her appearance made people leave her alone. If an old friend came up and tried to talk to her it would be so awkward. Dettie didn't exactly have any friends in Australia and Cas was the only one she ever kept in contact with.

And if Gemma or Lina wanted to talk to her...well Dettie couldn't be held responsible for what she'd do. Seeing the two girl, women now she supposed, she fell in love with would shatter her whole not caring demeanor.

Keeping a careful eye out Dettie sat down on one of the free chairs. She flipped her sunglasses down, hoping they'd hide her face a bit.

A few hours then she could return to her hotel. She could do this.





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Gavin didn't like funerals. He didn't like chatting about his dead friends to strangers. And he definitely didn't like leaving Patty alone. But he wouldn't want Patty to be here. She was barely five and did not need to see a bunch of stuff adult crying around a dead body. Plus none of his old friends even knew had a kid, excluding Lina. He couldn't lie to his cousin even if he wanted to.

He had put on a suit for this and was really regretting it. The tie was digging into his throat and the dress shoes were uncomfortable. At least the venue looked good. Gavin would hate for Lisa to be remembered in a crappy place. She deserved more than that

He crossed his legs, drumming his fingers on his knee. It was getting crowed now. What time was it? Gavin glanced down at his watch and wondered how Patty was doing in daycare.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Billie Drummer
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H E X C O D E: #372B3Dxxxxxxx O U T F I T: x



Billie rubbed at her wet hair with a towel. She'd just showered but she could still feel grime all over her body. 4 hours or travelling on a bus tended to do that to a person. It also wasn't as restful an experience as one might imagine, a young child had spent the whole trip kicking the back of Billie's chair, despite all the glares Billie sent to them and their useless father. So needless to say Billie was tired, she got off her 8 hour shift at the dinner and then got straight on the bus back to Crap-Town. Billie grabbed the outfit she'd laid out on her bed before her shower.

The walk from Billie's crappy motel to the funeral wasn't too bad. Though it made Billie glad she wasn't a heels person. The walk passed by Billie's house, which gave her a chance to glance at her old house. It was a sadder experience than what Billie had imagined it would be. She felt a longing for the life she threw away, something she believed she could never get back. Billie hadn't believed that there was anything that would bring her back home. Come hell or high water she was determined to never come back to this place.

Then she got the news. There was no way she couldn't be here to say goodbye. Dear, sweet Lisa was dead. It was a shock, that's for sure. Billie had been friends with Lisa, Lisa was sweet and kind, Billie didn't have many friends but Lisa made a point of being one of them. She was also the reason Billie didn't tell anyone else about her plan to runaway with Jackson. Billie had told Lisa and Lisa had told her not to go, that it was a bad idea. They'd gotten in a massive fight and Billie hadn't talked to her since. It was a bitter feeling, knowing now in retrospect how right Lisa had been.

Walking into the venue, Billie put on a happy face. She didn't plan on catching up with anyone. She just wanted to get in there, say goodbye to Lisa then get back home for her shift on Monday. However if she did end up talking to anyone, she planned on keeping the shit-ness of her life under wraps. Putting down her sunglasses so they sat firmly on her face, she hoped they might hide her identity for at least a little while longer. Billie saw Alex and considered going up and saying hi, but she realized that she just lacked the motivation to do. What would she even say? Instead Billie wandered through the room, reading through a leaflet, it had some lame poem about Lisa. Billie took a seat but when she looked to her left she saw she'd picked the seat to Dettie, and old ex-friend of hers. Billie scoffed and looked the other way.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Sage McQueen Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Castiel O'Connor
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#, as written by tigerz
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[ H E X C O D E ]
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[ O U T F I T ]
Outfit 0 | 0 Outfit



[ S E C R E T ]
0PTSD 0 | 0 Escort




They were running late. Though it really shouldn't have been a surprise considering Sage was knocked out drunk from smiley face blue pill and Captain Morgan rum combination. Jasper of course had been the one to clean her up though he did give her a rude awakening with a surprise cold shower which ended with Sage waking up swinging like she did every time he did this to her. Sage hated this but Jasper did mean well. She hardly ever slept and it was a miracle she managed to get more sleep than Jasper. She did comply when Jasper told her to get ready since she was sober for the time being to know that the events leading up to today had been tough on her younger brother.

It'd been a long couple nights for Jasper. He'd been booked by his Madam to accompany and older and distinguished gentleman for the evening. It wasn't entirely bad. He preferred his older customers with deeper pockets since they always seemed to spoil him and tip well. The man took him out for the night to attend a business type gathering which wasn't Jasper's first. He'd been shown off like a piece of arm candy so the man wouldn't appear single and finished the night off with his usual duties for his customer that always enjoyed booking him for such events. Once his job was finished, he went home at an ungodly hour that was normal in the city of New York before Sage as always since she was out partying and taking God knows what with her 'friends'.

The next day, Jasper had taken the liberty of packing for him and his older sister before heading to his school to inform his teachers of his short absence. He finished his day off by informing his Madam of his departure and getting a bonus of sorts by doing what he does best... Sleeping with her. The two had a rather inappropriate relationship between boss and employee. Jasper wasn't a fan of it but it gave him extra money in his pocket for the trip. Sage of course spent her time drinking and stealing from his stash of dope before Jasper got home to slip a sleeping pill into the drink he poured for her just so she'd hopefully pass out and make the flight back home peaceful and it worked.

After arguing back and forth over how to dress for the funeral, Jasper finally gave up and let Sage show up with him at the funeral in their expensive rental car. Jasper was dressed formally his own stylish flare added to it while Sage showed up wearing a not so appropriate t shirt and jeans with a flannel over it and a beanie to cover her wet hair that probably hasn't been washed for a week. They came in quietly... Well, Jasper did while Sage stumbled in having to grip her brother's arm to steady herself thanks to the drinks she was sneaking from her flask in her back pocket.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Castiel O'Connor Character Portrait: Ellie Powell
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

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0000A L E X 0 H O L M E S 00000000000000000|00000000000000000000000 C A L L U M 0 W I L C O X
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hexcode
#02857e 0 | 0 #004d00

outfit
alex 0 | 0 callum

song
talk me down | troye sivan







He knew that he'd said he'd go, but now, he was regretting that. The memorial service had exhausted him enough as was. The thought of having to deal with any more people was exhausting him enough as it was. He'd asked Callum to pick him up, but his phone had died at exactly the same moment he'd decided that. And now his phone was taking ages to turn back on. Callum would probably be here before Alex even got around to texting him. Just perfect. He'd hardly moved from the bed except to retrieve his sketchpad from his backpack that was acting as a storage for everything that wasn't clothes. The room wasn't that untidy, but it certainly wasn't an image of cleanliness. Paper scattered the floor where he'd ripped out pages that he hadn't been happy with. He couldn't put what he wanted to onto paper, and that was frustrating him a little. So, eventually, he'd just decided to start attempting to catch up on some sleep and pretend that everything that was happening... wasn't.

Callum took a deep breath as he stuck the key into the ignition of his 2011 Ford Bronco and turned it. The engine revved to life, growling hungrily for the open road. He reached out an pat the dashboard. "Sorry, pal. No roadtrips just yet. We have to go get Alex." He eyed the camera bag he had sitting in the shadows of his trunk and thought he should take it to the outing. Get pictures of Gemma, Lina... Alex.

He shook his hand and put the car in drive. He wasn't sure he wanted Alex to know about his new hobby. Not until he was any good at it. Alex was always incredibly talented art wise. Callum couldn't even draw a straight line to save his life. Even his hearts looked strange. He occasionally watched his phone as the GPS guided him to the hotel Alex was staying in. Guilt ate at the lining of his heart as he waited. It got to the point that Callum groaned and put his face in his hands, regret pressing down on his shoulders like weights. If only he had stayed. If only he had tried harder... but he had tried. He had done everything he could think of, everything the internet said to do, but Alex wouldn't listen. But he recovered, right? Yeah because you leaving pushed him over the edge. Callum stuck a hand out to lay into the horn and remembered at the last second that he was outside a hotel and not Alex's house. The car gave a soft honk causing head to turn in his direction. He lifted his hands apologetically and sat back in his seat with a sigh. He grabbed his phone from its mount on the dashboard and typed out:

Dude, we're going to be late Erased it. Wrote You gonna come down before I grow old and die alone?. Erased it. He groaned. Why was this so hard? He apologized. Alex knew how sorry he was. Maybe it was that Alex hadn't exactly said he had forgiven him. And Alex hadn't specified just what... they were exactly. Everytime his mind reverted back to before, it felt too easy. He needed to tone it down, but toned down didn't make him Callum. He tried again.

O prince up in his tower high cometh down lest we beest late for the ball. or I kicketh the bucket of old age. Sent.

The first Alex knew of his phone turning on was when it buzzed with a text. He rolled over, retrieving the phone. His stomach squeezed on seeing Callum's name. He read the text, a small smile crossing his lips at the message, but guilt stole it from his face.

Sorry, dude, really not feeling up to it. It was too brief, but what else could he say? Elaborate on his depression? Say how he'd just spent the whole afternoon asleep or drawing or staring at the ceiling? It wasn't necessary, so he wasn't going to share. He wasn't going to guilt-trip Callum. He felt bad enough for bailing on him.

Below, Callum's phone gives a happy chirp as his phone received a message. Despite the sounds, Callum's face wasn't happy. He opened the message and he sighed. He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger and reread the message. Was it because of him? Because he was the one giving Alex a ride? Maybe he could text Cas... No. If they were going to fix things. It was going to be Callum. But that didn't mean Callum wouldn't offer.

Come on, Man. Don't do this. Is it me? I can text Cas if that would help. He was completely oblivious to the real reason for Alex's sudden distance of the situation, but he felt that if Alex didn't come down, Callum might never see him again. The ache for the open road was already settling in his chest. He wasn't sure how long he could stay in this stupid little town that held so many secrets. He also wasn't sure which window was Alex's but he stared up into him as if willing his friend--his love if he was being honest--to look down. Rapunzel, Rapunzel, look out your tower. See the prince waiting for... many an hour?" He groaned. Poetry was never his strong suit.

He was watching his phone for the reply, knowing that it probably wasn't going to just be a simple reply. And, sure enough, when he read the message, he just ran a hand down his face. He couldn't even send a freaking text without hurting anybody.

No, it's not you. This morning just took it out of me, you know? He sent, staring at the screen and reading Callum's last message. He just wanted to see Callum face to face again. Here, they could talk it out again. They could talk it out in private.

This tower of mine has a lift, if you want to talk face to face. Third floor, room 347. He sent, locking his phone, but staying staring at the screen.

Callum was muttering about his lack of social skills under his breath as he waited for a reply. As soon as his phone chirped, he quickly unlocked it and read the message. His eyes read the words slowly at first and then reread them before practically jumping from his car and made his way inside. It took everything in him not to run to the elevator. As he waited, he typed a reply:

I suppose I can brave that metal beast. I better get a kiss at the top." No. No no. He erased that last part and just sent: I suppose I can brave that metal beast. They just started talking again. No need to fuck it up with his failure of a flirt. He bounced on his toes as the metal doors slowly slid open and he practically hopped inside. It was completely empty so he didn't need to worry about bothering people with his fidgeting.

The doors slid open again on the third floor and he quickly made his way to room 347. He found it and lifted his hand to knock. And dropped it. Stop being a baby He lifted his hand again, took a deep breath and knocked. He let one word escape his lips, a whisper that sounded like a shout in the quiet hall, "Alex?"

Callum's reply made him smile a little, and his eyes shifted from the screen of his phone to the door. A few moments later, the knock came. He got to his feet, casting an eye over the room. It suddenly seemed ridiculously untidy, but there wasn't much he could do about it. So he just ran a hand through his hair, and opened the door. "Hey," he said, standing back to let Callum in. "Sorry about the mess, I just... I meant to tidy up, but then I fell asleep and... yeah," he said, shrugging. God, this was so much more awkward than he'd imagined.

Callum's heart jumped when the door swung open revealing a lightly disheveled Alex. He looked like he had been sleeping before Callum had texted him. He stepped inside, his eyes sweeping about the room. It was a mess, but it wasn't any worse than the back of his Bronco. "Hey, don't sweat it. You should see the back of my truck." Was it a truck? It was definitely bigger than a car. It felt powerful like a truck... he was sticking with truck. "But what's with all the paper?" He knocked a wad of crumpled paper across the floor with his foot, landing next to a pile of shoes and a backpack bursting with clothes.

He smiled at Callum's response. They'd never been the tidiest pair, and it was kind of comforting to know that some things never changed. "Just... drawings that weren't going to work out. I was getting frustrated, hence why they're flung... literally all over the room," he admitted, running his hand through his hair again. He sighed. "Sorry for backing out, dude, I just... Like I said, I've been asleep all afternoon, and I still don't have the energy to go out and try and deal with people again. I'm just... constantly tired lately," he said. It wasn't a lie. He was telling the truth, and praying that Callum wasn't going to question it.

Callum smirked. Everything about Alex was still so... Alex it was almost like he had never left. Like Alex hadn't fallen deeper and deeper into a pit. Almost. He tried to smile more, echo his friend's from before, but it was forced and weak so he dropped it. "You alright? It sounds like you need caffeine, dude. Not more sleep." Not that he had said he would be doing more sleep. "Plus being around people might be good for you." He wasn't sure he could go if Alex didn't. He pushed the thought down. It was selfish and not how he needed to think to get Alex back.

Was he alright? That was the million dollar question. Alex just forced a grin. "Caffeine doesn't help all that much, to be honest. Trust me, I've tried." God, everything felt so forced with him. All he wanted was to sleep and everything else was just forced, just a mask to get him through life. "And I don't know- I was fine until I went out this morning and then bam, exhaustion. Do you really want me falling asleep on you?" He asked, half jokingly. Considering everything they'd been through, this felt... all wrong. Like small talk and nothing more, all while they pretended it was fine. When it wasn't.

Callum nodded as he listened, thinking of anyway to help his love--his friend. "Sounds like you're not getting enough sleep." He looked up at Alex, his eyes worried. "Do you want to talk about it? About what happened? I mean either between us, or rehab, or whatever. Sometimes.. talking helps." How many times had he heard those words from Gemma as he shut her own, too afraid to tell her of his business... of what Alex really meant to him. He chuckled again. "I mean, if you did fall asleep on me, it's not like I would mind."

Alex decided against saying that he was sleeping ten, eleven, twelve hours a night, and then napping during the day. According to his therapist, that was normal, and that it would pass as he recovered. But that wasn't happening just yet. Probably because he wasn't sticking to all of her advice.

He shook his head as Callum asked if he wanted to talk. "I... I don't know if I can. I'm still trying to get my own head around it. Coming back here, seeing everyone..." Seeing Callum... "It's all kinda brought up the memories and the feelings and... I can't deal with it right now, Callum. Especially because the only thing that brought us here is someone dying." It could have been him. It was only luck, really, that he was still alive.

Callum took a step towards Alex, sick at the lost look on his face. "Nothing is going to happen to us, Alex. What happened to Lisa was an accident." He took a deep breath. "You're getting help right? What does your.. doctor? Therapist say?"

Alex didn't know what he wanted to do. Step closer to Callum? Step away? He wanted to both, but he didn't want to do either. So he stayed where he was, ignoring the sudden pressure on his chest. He didn't want to talk about this. He didn't want to talk about his problems, not to Callum.

"It's just... standard for a recovering addict. She says that if I wasn't an addict, I'd probably be on meds, but that she thinks I'd resort to abusing them." He wasn't going to say the word. Depression. He didn't want pity, he just wanted Callum to leave so he could go back to sleep and forget that it had ever happened and just... not leave the room until he was flying back. He wasn't going to tell Callum, but he agreed with the therapist. If anyone handed him anything stronger than paracetamol, he'd be downing it in the hope of taking the edge off.

At the word "addict" Callum winced. He feared Alex had been that bad. In fact, he knew it was true, but didn't want to accept it. Without permission, a memory surfaced. Alex's eyes wide and distant as he talked about whatever his drug addled brain was thinking. At first, Callum laughed with him. Even considered joining him if he wasn't thinking about how much Gemma would kill him. Then things went downhill quickly. Their inventory was depleting more rapidly than they could sell it and Callum, for a long time, refused to believe Alex was dipping into the stash. He had been wrong. He agreed with the therapist. He wasn't going to say it though. "Alex, you need to get out of this room. Some fresh air, some laughs. Then you can come here and crash or... He paused, his brain crying out Don't do it! "You could come back to the motel with me. Crash there. That way you're not alone." And I'm not alone anymore.

No. No, Callum wasn't getting it. He couldn't actually face it. The thought of heading out to a party, where everyone else would be talking about how great their life was and how they'd gotten everything they'd wanted. And then they'd look at him and he'd either have to tell more lies or tell the truth and deal with their pity and their general disappointment. He didn't want to deal with any of them. He wanted Callum to stay here with him and just chill and forget about the outside world and all their problems, but Callum wasn't going to let him do that. Callum sounded like his freaking therapist, preaching to him when he had no idea what he was going through.

He took a step back, running a hand through his hair. Being back here, having Callum talking to him like this- it was like he was back then, back when he'd either be high or so painfully sober, when everyone was telling him what to do and what was right for him when they had no idea what he needed. "No, Callum, I can't." He couldn't even say any more than that. He couldn't elaborate. He could feel the frustration starting to build already, but ignored it, trying to suppress it. If there was one person he didn't want to lose his temper with, it was Callum.

Callum froze. He knew that look. The fear that only disappeared when he was shorting shit or shooting up. He took a step back. He needed to fix it. How could he fix it? He looked around the room, trying to think of something quick. Before Alex exploded and the radiation would hit him right in the chest. He kicked a ball of paper when he took a step back and an idea snapped into place. "Show me what you're working on?" He wasn't sure how Alex would react to the change of topic. He knew Alex probably thought he was probing and being an ass and he would rather face his reaction to that request than make the gap between them bigger. He still wished he had the strength--and permission that's very important--to cross the room and kiss him. His hands shook with the need, but he stuffed them in his pockets.

Alex forced himself to take a deep breath. And another. He was fine. He was okay. He wasn't going to have to leave just yet. Callum wasn't leaving. He nodded once at Callum's request. Then again as he moved back to the bed, retrieving the sketchpad from the bedside locker. Another deep breath. He flicked through the sketchpad, landing on the draft he was happiest with. His therapist had been encouraging him to put what he was feeling onto paper, but Alex had never been good with words. So he drew. Sometimes he just drew what was in front of him. But he drew more than that too.

He sat down on the bed, staring at the drawing. His mind picked out the flaws and he wanted to rip it up. But instead, he looked up at Callum, forced a smile, and patted the bed beside him. He looked back down at the drawing, trying to see it for what it was. He'd never seen the Grim Reaper as a bad spirit. Somebody who was just trying to do what he was supposed to, but who was portrayed as evil for that. He wondered if the Grim Reaper was an outcast too. So he'd drawn the Grim Reaper in human form. Hollow, gaunt cheeks, but bright eyes that shone from even beneath his cloak. Hands that could carry a human as easy as they could take their hand. Like him but also nothing like him. He slid it across to Callum.

Callum waited. For and explosion. For a smle. When he didn't get either, he still considered the diversion a success. He watched as Alex pulled a sketchpad from the bed and began to flip through the pages. He waited until he was given the okay to cross the room and sat beside Alex. There was a small forced smile that reminded him of all the times Alex smiled apologetically after a bad episode. He gave a small smile back, just as he would before and took the picture. His jaw dropped. It was obvious it was modeled a little after Alex, but at the same time it was a totally different person. Not a person but a concept: The Grim Reaper.

The detail was amazing, though. Almost like a photograph. He brushed his fingers over the page, careful not to smudge it. He could feel where Alex had erased and reworked the picture, the dents from pressing harder with the pencil. He closed his eyes for a moment and pictured Alex working. He had seen his work in the past, but had definitely improved. And Callum couldn't help but be proud of him. He opened his eyes and grinned. "This is crazy good, Alex. You've gotten so much better." He looked up at Alex. "Not that you've needed to improve."

The smile that Callum's compliment produced was the first fully real smile that Alex had smiled in a while. "Thanks. Drawing is a great way to avoid my family," he said, shrugging a little. Was that too personal? No, not really. Callum had seen and heard all of his problems. This wasn't anything new.

"Listen, Callum, I'm sorry. Coming back and seeing everyone and... seeing you. It's tough. You know as well as I do that I could never really deal with my emotions all that well in the first place, and I've kinda got to learn to deal with it all over again. I get angry a lot and I get anxious a lot and... I'm afraid of losing everyone again," he admitted, not making eye contact. "I'm afraid of losing you again," he added, more quietly. "So a lot of the time I just feel like... it's better not to get close to begin with." God, his therapist was going to be proud of him when she heard what he was about to say. "But... it's not the same with you. I want things to go back to the way they were. I'm not easy to deal with, though, so if you don't want to... I understand." Wow, not only had he made a decision on what he wanted, he'd also admitted to it. He was on a roll.

Callum beamed when he saw Alex's smile. His real smile. "We all have our escapes." he replied with a shrug similar to Alex's. He saw the change in Alex right before he spoke and he listened, his full attention on him. He felt heat rise to his face when he said I'm afraid of losing you again. When he finished, Callum opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The words hadn't formed yet, they were still lost in the words Alex had spoken.

His face heated and he stammered a bit, trying to get the words out. "I--You mean--We--" he took a deep breath. "Back to how things were, how?" He tilted his head slightly to the side, his eyes soft. His heart pounded in his chest in hopes of hearing what he needed to hear.

It was unusual that Alex could talk when Callum couldn't. Maybe the therapy was working after all. As he watched him, he was reminded exactly why he'd said what he had. He was tired of trying to deny it to himself. He still loved Callum, as much as he'd tried to persuade himself otherwise. So at Callum's question, he leaned across to kiss him.

Callum's pulse thundered in his ears as he waited for Alex to answer. Please Please Please It sang. Alex's blue eyes grew intense in a way that Callum recognized and before Alex even moved, he had his answer. He leaned forward as well, his hand coming up to cup Alex's cheek softly, his thumb gliding across his cheek bone. He paused, only for a moment, building the tension and then his lips met Alex's. It was as soft and warm as he remembered, this time without the tingling of drugs burning through Alex's veins. He held himself back from being too forceful--too passionate. Not for fear of hurting Alex, but so he could speak. He needed to make sure Alex understood something if they were to move forward.

"Alex," he whispered as he pulled back slightly, laying his forehead against Alex's. "I need you to understand something." He looked up into those blue eyes that held him captive since the day they met. "I meant what I said back at Lisa's..." he didn't finish it. Death had no place in their conversation. So instead he went around the word. "I'm not going anywhere. If you want me, you have me. I've learned what it's like to not have you and I don't want to taste that life again. I made a mistake and I'm sorry, but if you're taking me back. I'm not letting you go. I will always be here for you. In the way I never was before." He leaned his head down, his lips just barely touching Alex's. "I love you, Alex Holmes."

It was everything he had been waiting and hoping for. Everything he had remembered. His skin tingled where Callum touched it, like static electricity. Even when Callum pulled away, resting his forehead against Alex's, Alex could still feel the electricity. His hand rested around the back of Callum's neck, and he couldn't stop himself from smiling, even as Callum met his eyes. The idea of having Callum all to himself, without fear of losing him... Alex wasn't so scared any more. Having Callum this close made everything feel a little better.

"Good," he replied. "Because you're not getting rid of me," he said. At Callum's words, his smile just grew. "And I love you, Callum Wilcox," he said, before closing the slight distance between them to kiss Callum again. He'd forgotten how much he'd missed it. It was almost exactly like everything his doctor had told him to avoid, because it would just get him hooked again. And she was exactly right.

He pulled away, but not too far. He couldn't remember the last time he'd grinned this much. "Well, haven't we got a party to go to? I think I'll just about be able to manage it now that I have you," he said.

Callum felt heat running through his veins at Alex's kiss. He heard his words echoing in his ears. His heart was racing--fluttering really--in his chest. He desperately wished he had his camera so he could take a picture of this moment and hold onto it forever. There was a tingling sensation on the skin of his neck and his lips. Pretty much wherever his body met Alex's. When Alex pulled back he felt a grin take form on his face. The chuckle that bubbled up from his core was practically a giggle. He was drunk on Alex's kisses and high on his touch. How could Alex have prefered drugs to the feeling of this?

He looked up at his love from under his eyelashes, the action more effective now that he wore contacts instead of his glasses. "Party? What party?" he asked huskily. He chuckled again, laying his forehead against Alex's shoulder. "Man the party. I almost forgot about it. You really want to go?"

As Callum leaned his head against Alex's shoulder, Alex rested his head against Callum's. He'd missed being this close to somebody. Not just sex, just having this kind of physical contact. Just being near somebody like this. He ran a hand through Callum's hair as he talked about the party. "Well, we both said we were going," he said. "And I don't particularly want to have to try and answer the questions of what we did while we weren't there," he teased.

Callum closed his eyes, reveling in the feel of Alex's fingers in his hair. It was comforting and the warmth of being near him was making him sleepy. Alex's teasing snapped him out of the feeling. Callum growled and turned his head, kissing the skin of Alex's neck. "Don't tempt me." He sighed happily and pulled back. "You're right though. We said we'd be there and we should. You should change." He stood, pushing back Alex's hair from his face and giving his forehead a soft kiss. "I'll wait outside your door otherwise I might distract you and we'll never get out of here." he teased.

Once Alex was finished and had whatever he wanted to take with him, Callum took ahold of his hand, and lead him down to the Bronco where he grabbed his camera bag and set it at the space below Alex's feet. As he drove towards the gathering of old friends, he had one hand on the wheel and one hand intertwined with Alex's fingers. He smiled to himself and turned on the radio, singing along to whatever song was playing for the millionth time.

The feeling of Callum's lips on his neck sent shivers down his spine again. But then Callum pulled away, and Alex sighed a little, grinning at the forehead kiss and gentle tease. He changed quickly, the change of clothes helping him to feel somewhat normal again. He couldn't believe how well things had gone. He'd pictured an argument, him exploding at Callum over something small... and it had gone the opposite. It had gone exactly as he'd wanted it to go. That didn't seem to happen all that much.

The drive to the pre-arranged spot was just as good. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this... peaceful. Callum's fingers in his, Callum singing along to the radio... He wanted to say it was like the old days, but it wasn't. In the old days, he'd either be high and singing along with Callum or babbling about something strange, or trying to recover from a hangover or general low, when he wanted to ask Callum to stop singing, because he had a headache, but didn't, because he didn't want to let Callum know how bad he was feeling.

He got out of the car, taking the supplies he'd picked up on his way back from the service with him. It was only a short walk to the site, but it looked like everyone else was already there. "Sorry we're late, guys. My ten minute nap turned into a few hours."

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H E X C O D E: #372B3D xxxxxxx O U T F I T: x


Billie had seen some old friends and familiar faces at Lisa's memorial. Of course it had all been through tinted sunglasses but she'd still seen them. How they mingled and made awkward conversation. Occasionally she thought she could get up and join them, but she couldn't bring herself to. Her eyes had spent most the time transfixed on Lisa's coffin. Then before long she was shuffling out with her head down.

Back at her hotel room, Billie had berated herself for not saying hi. Which was probably why she was shuffling down this stone path to an old campsite. She'd gotten a text about the meet up. Billie hadn't been sure she was going to to until the last minute. She have put on her clothes and taken them off at least five times trying to make up her mind. She hadn't originally intended to reconnect with anyone whilst back in town. Seeing them all at the memorial though, it had hit her harder than she thought it would have.

Billie looked up and also saw two figures she recognized arriving. Smiling her first unforced smile of the day Billie wandered over to them. "Hey Gavin," She said to the boy with a small smile. Of course she recognized him from back in the school days. They talked a little but probably only because Billie had alright friends with his girlfriend at the time, Patton. Billie wondered briefly if they were still together. It would be nice to see Patton again. "And," Billie froze when she looked at the girl Gavin was with. Shit. She gave an awkward smile as she completely blanked on the name. She'd been so confident walking over. "... Leigh?" Billie shook her head and tried to give an apologetic smile, "Shit. That's not right is it?"

Billie looked at the ground and adjusted her clothing. Perhaps she shouldn't have come, she was more confident than she had been in high school, but people were still not her best thing. Clearing her throat, Billie kicked the ground and looked back up at them deciding to give it another go. "So um, how did you guys manage the- uh," Billie couldn't bring herself to say funeral. Or memorial. Or anything else death related. "Lisa's thing." She sneaked a quick glance over at the crowd gathering around. Oh great more people she didn't know that well and would feel awkward around.

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Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gavin Dean Character Portrait: Billie Drummer Character Portrait: Lina Stretton
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Gavin was still laughing with Lina when Billie greeted him. He waved, then snorted at her attempt to remember his cousins name. There was no venom in it, just amusement. 'It's okay Billie. I was always the more memorible, and good looking cousin.' He winked at Bille then slung an arm around Lina's shoulders. 'No shame Cuz. I'll always be there for you.'

He looked back at Billie and hummed thoughtfully at her question. 'It was....' His nose wrinkled as he struggled to right words. 'Hard. Lisa was an amazing person and it's weird to think I'll never see her again.' Much more somber now Gavin almost didn't notice Alex walk up. When he did finally catch Gavin's attention it was a shock. Gavin had all but cut ties with Alex once he started dealing with drugs. He and Patton wanted nothing to do with it.

Gavin glanced at Lina then at Alex. Even if their friendship had ended he could help but eye Alex up and down like a worried mother. 'Hey Alex...I'm doing okay...What about you? How you holding up buddy?'

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Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Gavin Dean Character Portrait: Billie Drummer Character Portrait: Lina Stretton
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Smiling at Billie, Lina shook her head. "Don't worry about it," she waved it off her smile now turning silly as her cousin stepped in, proclaiming that he was the better cousin. "It's Lina," she corrected happily then playfully hit Gavin in the chest. "and you wish. We all know whose the better looking cousin here." Lina flirtingly rose her eyebrow at Billie but in a playful manner.

She agreeingly nodded along with Gavin's words about Lisa. "Yeah, she was the best softball we ever had." she added, her voice soft. Lina sure did admire Lisa both as her captain and as a person in general. Right then Alex walked up to them and since Lina was caught up in her good mood she smiled at him. She hadn't seen Alex in a while but looking at him now he looked better than he did back then even if it was a little. Admittedly she wasn't ready to forgive him. In fact she didn't even know if she could but that didn't mean she had to be an ass because of it. "Hey Alex!" she waved, slipping her hands back into her pockets. "Looking good, I might have to steal them shoes from you man." a half laugh slipped out of her mouth. She honesty really did like those shoes of his. Maybe she'd ask him where he got them later on.

A turning head had caught Lina's attention form the corner of her eye, and when she looked it was Gemma with Dettie on the other side of the fire. Something looked off so she decided to investigate, plus she hadn't greeted Dettie yet. "Hey guys, you'll have to excuse me. I'll catch up with you guys later." politely smiling she patted Gavin on his back before excusing herself. With green stained lips Lina walked over to the pair but as she got closer she began noticing the both features on each girl. Something was up, something bad. "What's wrong?" she questioned concerned.

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Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Sage McQueen Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Castiel O'Connor
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"It's...mom. She had a heart attack in prison and..." was what sort of broke Cas's train of thought. His mind was running in all sorts of directions, he had never really lost a parent. But he knew that his best friend had twice. The slightly taller blond moved closer to her and gave the woman a hug, and didn't let go. His breathing slow, as he tried to think of what to say. "Let's get this shindig started huh?" he spoke with a smile. He was going to make her happy no matter what. He looked towards Gemma and Lina for a response. His dark eyes closed a bit as he would back up from the group hug, and smile towards her. His hands moved towards his pocket and planted themselves in there. He was ready to sit around a damn campfire and sing some shit, or maybe get drunk so he'd forget a lot. Maybe even talk to Alex and Callum for a bit. "Whadya say? Wanna get wasted my queens?" he spoke as a chuckle emitted from his mouth. Maybe high school never ended? Or at least, Cas never changed.

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Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gavin Dean Character Portrait: Billie Drummer Character Portrait: Lina Stretton
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H E X C O D E: #372B3D xxxxxxx O U T F I T: x


When Lina and Gavin both replied somberly about Lisa's funeral Billie mentally kicked herself. Of course that was a bad question that was only going to bring down the mood. Outwardly though she nodded sympathetically. Thankfully she was saved from the awkwardly sad atmosphere she had created by Alex. Of course she hadn't turned around to confirm it was Alex but she would have recognized that voice anywhere. She supposed that he was the one friend she had truly missed in her time away, it had always felt like they'd been friends forever.

"Alex!" She said as she spun around with the warmest grin on her. Though it was wiped off the moment she spun around and actually laid eyes on her old friend. He looked, well, she couldn't put it into words. Though different would be one. He looked paler, more disheveled than before. Somehow he even looked smaller. Why? That was all she could think. Why did he look like this now? Of course, those weren't questions she could ask so instead she went awkwardly quiet not sure what to say.

Luckily there were others who could. Both Lina and Gavin jumped in to talk to Alex. Billie wasn't a fool though, she could sense the awkward air between the already. She glanced between them, wondering what kind of story was being kept from her. Luckily though it gave her time to adjust to this new vision of Alex. Time to re-group.

Once there was a gap in the conversation, Billie fixed eyes on Alex, putting her grin back on. She was still happy to see him even if he didn't quite look how she'd imagined. "I forgot to give you one of these," She said lightly pulling him in for a hug. "So tell me, what have you boys been up to post-school?" Billie asked both Gavin and Alex. Her hand still resting on Alex's shoulder in a friendly way. "You and Patton still together after all these years?" She said looking towards Gavin.

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Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Sage McQueen Character Portrait: Ellie Powell Character Portrait: Gavin Dean Character Portrait: Billie Drummer Character Portrait: Lina Stretton
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xxALEXxHOLMES
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xxxlocation: party xxxoutfit: here

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xxx"fixation or psychosis
xxxdevoted to neuroses now
xxxendless romantic stories
xxxyou never could control me"


His own grin broadened at Billie's response. However, her reaction upon seeing him made the smile slip and become much more forced. He should have expected that reaction, really. The last time she'd seen him, he'd been a young, healthy, and relatively healthy kid. And while he knew he looked better than he had done the last time he'd been home, he certainly looked worse than he had all those years ago.

Gavin spoke to fill the silence, something Alex was glad for. "Yeah, I'm doing good. Just started back into school and all that." He said simply, shrugging a little. Lina's comments returned a little bit of a genuine smile to his face. He wasn't sure if she was just avoiding talking about anything serious or not, but it did seem genuine, which was something Alex appreciated. But then she drifted away to talk to some of the girls, and Billie engulfed him in a hug. He hugged her back, his smile feeling less and less forced.

As Billie asked about Patton, Alex glanced at Gavin. Patton. Now, there was a name he hadn't heard in years. He could vaguely remember hearing something about her, but it had been in the midst of a drug-fuelled haze, so he couldn't even remember what it was. He'd lost years of his life thanks to the drugs, and there were entire sections of time he couldn't even remember. Settling back into normal life was easier said than done when you were still trying to put all the pieces back together, all while pretending that he had everything together. Apparently it was normal to feel like that and it would fade with time. That didn't stop Alex from wanting all the pieces back right then.






xxELLIExPOWELL
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xxxlocation: party xxxoutfit: here

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xxx"i'm a wanderess
xxxi'm a one night stand
xxxdon't belong to no city
xxxdon't belong to no man"
x


At Sage's response, Ellie just arched an eyebrow, grinning a little. It felt more fake than she wanted, but she was doing her best. Sage seemed a little more sober, though, which was something, even if she was as abrasive as ever. Sage laughed a little at Jasper's comment. "Yeah, college professors always seem entirely unaware that we actually have lives outside of class. Although, by the sounds of it, you're even busier than me," She replied. Sage made some comment about s'mores and went off in search of a drink. Ellie sighed and ran her hands through her hair.

"Still as much of a handful as ever, then?" She remarked lightly, nodding at Sage. When Ellie looked at her, she could hardly remember the cool older sister she had once been. She saw the woman she'd hooked up with, but... a shadow of that person. The only sign that Sage was even the same person was the teasing nickname of princess. It was hard for her- but it had to be worse for Jasper. Sage had only ever been a crush to Ellie. An unattainable teenage crush that had become something, only to be taken away by something she didn't understand. Seeing his sister damaged like this had to hurt.

She wrapped one arm around Jasper, rubbing his shoulder a little. "If you ever feel like dumping her on top of me for a night, just text me so I can hide the alcohol properly, 'kay?" She said, grinning at him. "So, how about them s'mores?" She asked. Some groups had evidently not yet heard about the s'mores, so she took it upon herself to yell over at them, "OI! S'MORES! COME AND GET THEM!" She laughed at Lina, standing up and going over to help her.

"So are you appointing yourself head chef of the s'mores or...?" She asked teasingly as she took some of the food. They hadn't gotten a proper chance to talk at the funeral, and she still wanted to catch up. "Is that what you've been doing since we last spoke, all those years ago?" She asked. She hadn't seen Lina since... probably before the fire. Or in the little space of time between her becoming conscious enough to hold a conversation and her moving away for recovery and rehabilitation and all that. Either way, it had been years ago.

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Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Billie Drummer Character Portrait: Lina Stretton
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ImageImageCallum took a seat by the fire while Alex went to talk to some of the others. He smiled at his love as he moved, happy to see that a lot of the stress from earlier had left his form. He still looked skeletal in the dying light of day beside the glowing embers of the fire, but he looked better still. Happier. Callum took a deep breath in and let it out through his nose. At least one thing from his past was dealt with. There was still the matter of his estranged sister. His dark eyes darted to the other side of the camp where Gemma was speaking quietly to a distraught Dettie. There was a distance between them that Callum was sure hadn't been there years before. He supposed it had to do with the fact that Dettie had moved before senior year had ended, something that was no secret around their circles. Then they were standing and joined by Lina and Cas and partook in a group hug that almost made Callum ache. He never had that many friends. Mostly just Gemma and Alex. Cas... he could consider Cas a friend too couldn't he?

When they group moved forward, Lina moving to collect some things from where they had placed their stuff, Callum took the opportunity to stand talk to Gemma. "Gem? Can I talk to you a second?" Gemma's smiling face turned towards him and her smile fell. So did his heart. Was she that upset with him? Did he hurt her that much with the distance? Then again, she had pushed him away just as far. They spent their high school years at arms length. She nodded and moved towards him. "What's up, Cal? Where've... um.. Where've you been?"

"Traveling around. Seeing the world. Taking on a new hobby." His eyes moved to Alex as he spoke, remembering the similar conversation they had, but he hadn't told him about his camera. Now that he thought about it, this would be the perfect place to pull it out and take some shots...Later though. "I don't know if I'm staying for very long, but I wanted to fix whatever happened with us first." He looked back at his sister's, her eyes nearly identical to his.

Gemma fidgeted before him. "Cal, there's nothing to fix. We just... needed the space? You know, to work out the comings and goings of high school." She wouldn't look at him. Jesus had it been that bad?

Callum ran his hands through his short hair and sighed. "You and I both know that's not true. I said some pretty shity things to you and I wanted to apologize. You were trying to help me, but I wasn't ready to let you in. I don't... I don't really know why considering we've let each other in practically since we were born but this felt different." He looked at her and smiled softly. "I'm sorry, Gem. I would like to... let you in again. I need my sister back."

There was a shining in Gemma's eyes as he spoke. She was thinking about the last time they had spoken, when she had pushed him away as well and she shook her head. "I'm sorry, too, Cal. But it was the same for me then there were... are things that I can't seem to share.. With anyone let alone you so please don't take it personally, but.." Her eyes snapped to Lina, laughing and handing out the s'mores supplies. "I forgive you. And if you forgive me, then.. Maybe we.. Maybe I can open up a bit more to you too. I would like my brother back very much."

In an answer, he took ahold of her arms and crushed her to him, wrapping her up tight. "Of course, Gem." He said into her hair. They stayed like that a moment taking in the familiar scents of each other which sounds totally weird, but when you've been away from someone that felt like half of you, you tend to get a little clingy. He released her and held her out at arms length so he could drop a bomb--or what he expected to be a bomb--on her. "Gemma, I like boys. Well, and girls, but right now, and hopefully always, there's a specific guy that holds onto my heart."

Gemma tossed her head back and laughed. At first, Callum thought she didn't believe him or that she thought he was a freak for it. But she looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "So? You thought that mattered to me? That I'd think any different of you." At that same moment, something flashed--like realization--in her eyes and she confessed, "I like girls. Well and guys, but mostly.. girls." Her eyes flashed back to Lina and then to Dettie, and she realized how confused she was getting between the two. She wanted to fix things with Dettie, but at the same time, Lina.. there was something there. Something Gemma couldn't ignore.

Callum grinned. "We're a couple of bi twins aren't we?" Gemma laughed again, "Guess so. It's Alex? Isn't it? It's been like that for a while. I thought there was something more than friendship between you two, but I wasn't sure you were ready to say anything. Or maybe my Gaydar was broken." He smiled sheepishly at her and that was all the answer she needed. "And you were into Dettie. Still are?" Gemma nodded, but it was hesitant, he could tell. "There someone else?" This time she didn't bother to hesitate. "Ready to share?" She shook her head, but her eyes, her gaze, told him all he needed to know and she knew it too. She was looking right at Lina. There was a softness there that reminded him of how she used to talk about Dettie and to Dettie.

Suddenly, Gemma moved towards the group and grabbed two plastic red cups from beside the cooler. She grabbed a bottle of whiskey, unscrewed the top, and poured a shot's worth into them. She took one for herself and handed the other to her brother. "To Twins." She said, lifting her cup in a toast. Callum tilted his head, a gleam in his eyes as he mirrored her movements. "To love." She took a deep breath and downed the shot, exhaling sharply at the burn. He smirked and drank his too, before grabbing a beer instead of pouring another shot like his sister. He tried to remember the last time she had seen her drink and couldn't. What he could remember, she never touched the stuff.

Gemma could remember the last time she drank. Or at least, the last time she had gotten drunk, and only the beginning of it. She woke up the next day so sick, Lina spent the day holding her hair back while she emptied the contents of her stomach into the porcelain god. With any luck, that wouldn't repeat, but she needed some liquid courage to sort together her thoughts. Or better yet, a distraction from them entirely. She poured another shot into her cup before moving towards Lina and the others. "Come on, Cal!" She called over her shoulder. "We have s'mores."

She sat down between Lina and Dettie. "Hit me with something sweet Lina."

Callum shook his head and took a look at the can of beer in his hand. He put in back in the cooler and made his way over to Alex. The last thing he wanted to do tonight was tempt his love--his boyfriend? The word sent chills up his spine--with another addictive substance when he was doing so well. Hopefully, none of the others would try. "Hey Billie, Alex. There are s'mores over yonder. We should go and partake before the feast is over." He had just barely been able to refrain from calling Alex his prince. That shot was stronger than he had expected.

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Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Alphonsine Bernadette Cunningham Character Portrait: Gavin Dean Character Portrait: Billie Drummer
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Having the three near really helped. When they had her wrapped in their arms it was almost easy to just forget all the bad stuff. Dettie would of been content just staying like that all night, but eventually they broke off. 'Thanks guys...' She said, voice already sounding more like normal. Eventually the girls spread out, leaving Dettie to lean on Cas. She bobbed her head to the music Gemma put on and laughed at the sight that was Lina.

She sat sown again, this time watching Gemma go. As much as Dettie wanted the other girl by her side she knew Gemma needed a long talk with her brother. Still, dead mom or not Dettie would smack him if he hurt Gemma again.

She tore her eyes away to look at Lina now. 'Need any help Li?'






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Gavin waved Lina off as she left. Heaven knows he was glad she was being more social with the people she used to know. He hoped everything worked out over there. He grinned when he was the four person hug. Good. He wasn't the fondest of Dettie, though he didn't out right hate her, buthe knew Gemma was a good person. And Cas for the matter. All of them were good people when it came down to it.

His attention was turned back to Billie and Alex with the use of one name. When they mentioned her his whole body snapped towards them. God, why didn't he expect this? A lot of people here knew Patton. She was popular and it was idiotic to think they wouldn't ask after her. Vaguely he wondered if anyone thought it was strange they weren't side by side now. In high school they were practically joint at the hip.

Gavin squirmed. It would be so easy to tell them exactly what happened. But then there would be questions, and looks of pity everyone staring at him. And there was no way he could explain that it was his fault she died. He was the one who got her pregnant at such a young age. 'Umm....,' He said finally. 'It's....complicated. I don't really wanna talk about it...Sorry.'

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Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gavin Dean Character Portrait: Billie Drummer
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H E X C O D E: #372B3D xxxxxxx O U T F I T: x


When Gavin responded that it was complicated and he didn't want to talk about Patton, Billie had to physically stop herself from face palming. "Oh, um, sorry?" She said awkwardly, not really sure how to reply. Now she remembered why she avoided socialization at all costs. Though she mentally filed that piece of information away under 'bad breakup'. She were a lesser person or just desperate for something to talk about, that would make a nice piece of gossip to bring up later. Of course she liked to believe she was above gossip however.

Luckily Alex's old friend Callum appeared and announced that people were doing smores. She flashed him a grateful smile, then with obviously forced enthusiasm she grinned at Alex and Gavin. "Smores sounds great. We should go get some!" It sounded robotic and fake even to her own ears, she didn't really do peppy but she was desperate to get away from her previous awkward question that to her still felt like it was lingering in the air and choking her.

Billie started walking over to the fire and gave Callum a polite smile. Truth be told she'd only really known him through Alex. "So, you guys still friends then? kept in touch since highschool?" Billie was beginning to wonder how many of her classmates had actually kept in touch. "And how's your sister doing?" Billie blurted out almost as a shout. She was just proud of herself for remembering that he had a sister. Her name was Gemma if Billie recalled. She looked briefly out to the fire to try and spot the red head. She was pretty sure she had red hair back then.

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Character Portrait: Callum Wilcox Character Portrait: Alex Holmes Character Portrait: Gemma Wilcox Character Portrait: Ellie Powell Character Portrait: Gavin Dean Character Portrait: Billie Drummer
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xxALEXxHOLMES
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xxxlocation: party xxxoutfit: here

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xxx"fixation or psychosis
xxxdevoted to neuroses now
xxxendless romantic stories
xxxyou never could control me"


He had been right about hearing something about Patton, then. He still couldn't quite remember what it was, though. Still, either way, he wasn't going to grill Gavin about it- or probably even bring it up again. It was clear it was uncomfortable for him, and Alex had been asked enough uncomfortable questions lately to know how unpleasant it was. A distraction arrived in the form of what appeared to be a slightly tipsy Callum, one that made Alex grin. Billie followed them over to the fire, starting to talk to Callum. Alex sat down at the fire, glancing around at everyone there. They were all familiar faces, faces he hadn't seen in years. Some he barely recognised, some had barely changed.

There was a certain peace to the evening, everybody just sitting around talking and chilling. At the mention of a party, he'd been nervous- unsure of what exactly to expect. But he could handle this. This was everything he'd hoped for. Callum back by his side. Old friends surrounding him. And no pressure- no pressure to drink, no pressure to lie about what he'd been up to, no pressure to hide. No pressure to do anything but just... chill.






xxELLIExPOWELL
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xxxlocation: party xxxoutfit: here

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xxx"i'm a wanderess
xxxi'm a one night stand
xxxdon't belong to no city
xxxdon't belong to no man"
x


Ellie followed Lina closer to the fire, laughing at her comment. "I knew it!" She declared loudly, laughing a little. God, she'd missed Lina more than she'd realised. A lot more. In the final few days before the fire, she'd started to realise that being popular didn't necessarily mean having lots of friends. Because the minute you started to fall, they would all turn their backs to you and let you fall. Lina, Jasper, and Dettie had been some of very few truly good friends she'd had, and they'd been there for her even after her fall. And now they were here again. "Oh, you know, college. Trying to make life decisions when you can't even pick what shoes to wear out on a Saturday night," she remarked lightly.

Gemma arrived then as Ellie reached over to get a beer. Ellie smiled at her as she sat down on the other side of Lina. "I'm good, Gemma, and you?" She asked. She'd shared a couple of classes with the other girl, but couldn't say she knew her all that well. She took a mouthful out of the beer, swallowing as Lina put her arm around Gemma. Something about that troubled her, something she couldn't quite put a finger on. She drained more of her beer, suddenly wishing she had something stronger.

Her eyes lingered on Cas and the stupid jacket. Anger flared in her chest. Here, she'd have backup. Here, she'd have people who would question his actions as much as she did.

"Hey, Cas, can I ask you something?" She asked, running a finger around the top of her bottle. "That jacket looks awfully like one of Jordan's. Care to enlighten me on that?" She asked, keeping her tone light and pleasant, but not allowing it to reach her eyes. She took another mouthful out of her beer without breaking eye contact.

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