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Tinashé Kachingwe

"Your girlfriend wishes she could look this good."

0 · 7,303 views · located in Beverly Hills, California

a character in “Summer Reunited”, as played by chanelindistress

Description




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{“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”}
~ Mae West, Wit & Wisdom of Mae West

{2 On: Tinashe || Wings: Little Mix || All of These Boys: Jasmine V || Break Free: Ariana Grande || Partition: Beyoncé || Blank Space: Taylor Swift}
{Bang Bang: Jessie J || How To Be A Heartbreaker: Marina & the Diamonds || Aquarius: Tinashe || Love Me Harder: Ariana Grande || Cry: Rihanna }



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Full Name
"Say it with me...Tin-ah-shay. Let's not even get started on my last name."
Tinashé Jørgensen Kachingwe

Preferred Name
"As I tell everyone, just call me Tinashé. It's not that hard. But most of my friends call me Tiny."
Shay (Most common}; Tiny {Common; mostly by close friends & family}; Jorgie {Least common; only by family, mostly her mom}; Princess {Common]; only because her step-father called her that a lot in front of people and it ended up sticking}

Age
"And not one bartender better question me either."
21

Birthday
Feburary 6, 1994

Ethnicity
56% Zimbabwean// 20% Danish// 10% Norwegian// 4% Polish// 10% Irish

Sexuality
"Definitely strictly-dickly...but if you get enough drinks in me, half of these girls start lookin' real good."
Heteroflexible

Occupation
"I've been called the Next Queen of R&B or the New Beyoncé of my time. At the end of the day, I'm a girl with a dream and I'm not waiting for someone to help me along the way. I've been proactive this long, nothing can stop me now."
Singer// Song-writer// Model (Formerly)// Actress// Dancer// Producer (Kinda)// Activist



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Height:Weight:Build
5'2// 105 lbs// Hourglass

Skin Tone
"My mom likes to call it a peanut-butter brown.
Very light brown

Eye Color
Brown

Hair Color:Hair Type
"My hair's super curly, so Carol's Daughter is a blessing on most days. Every now and then I might wear it straight. And everyone knows that the blonde I've been rocking since last year was nowhere near my natural color. But I'm really liking this black color on me now."
Dark brown {0-13}; Walnut brown {13-15}; Honey blonde {15-16}: Raven {As of two weeks ago}

Distinguishing Marks
Tinashe has a few scars on her body, though not many are particularly noticeable. Just your minor scarring, like the one on her left ankle from when she fell on the playground and scraped her leg. Or the one on the corner of her left eye from where a metal door clipped her because she wasn't paying attention. Small things like that. Despite her father's wishes, Tinashe did get her nose piercing back when she was fourteen. She has the standard ear piercings that her mom got done for her when she was about three and she is considering a belly button piercing, but has not decided yet. She does have a tattoo on the nape of her neck; it is the symbol for an Aquarius and is on her debut album cover. She also has a sun tattoo on her lower back, and is considering a third.

Clothing Description
"I like to just be casual. I think a lot of my style is about being comfortable and I think that is something that makes me feel just confident and relaxed. I like to feel like myself. I definitely also have a tomboy edge. As far as labels go, I don't like to stick to a particular label. I like to switch it up and I love vintage. But I'm also curvy and I'm comfortable with my skin enough to show it off."
Being an entertainer who is constantly on stage leaves it near impossible to not be comfortable in your own skin and if there is anything Tinashe is, it is comfortable in her own skin. Does she need to show out every day? No, not necessarily. She definitely sticks to a more casual and comfortable every-day wear with a hint of sexy, especially considering her love for crop tops and pants that sit low on her hips. Such can be seen in this, this, and this. She likes flaunting her curves; she has them so her mentality is that she should be allowed to have that kind of autonomy over her own body. So, expect her in crop tops, jeans, and sneakers. Her style is definitely influenced by the 90s and the hip hop era, in that she loves letterman's jackets and baggy pants, even sweats. She does have her more girly days, but at the end of the day, she's not afraid to wear sneakers and look sexy doing it.



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Goals:Aspirations
Tinashe's greatest goal is to become one of the leaders of the R&B world. As anyone would tell you, the genre has been lacking, particularly in terms of artists of color with actual lyrical genius and if there's one thing critics have been noting about Tinashe is that her manipulation of words is profound. So, she wants to keep the attention there. She also wants to soon incorporate more mainstream issues like racism and sexism in her music; most of her fans and even those who have interviewed know that this is her passion and she has been involved in several campaigns, but she has yet to bring any music to the table and she wants to go down as a legend in that regard - singing mainstream music and being on top while promoting messages that don't necessarily have anything to do with garnering more followers. She definitely wants to do a concert with Janet Jackson (her greatest inspiration) and possibly Emelie Sande. She also eventually wants to settle down.

Fears
Tinashe's greatest fear is not being good enough. Whether it's in the music industry or in a relationship, she's terrified of seeing everything she could want in life but not being good enough. It is why she is willing to play this sex icon role and why she's more comfortable with being the girl you lust after, but not the one you wake up to. She's still getting used to being sincere in hyping herself up and will appear as cool as she can when met with criticism, but she's always holding on to the traumatic bullying she endured back in middle school, which makes it hard for her to be open to deeper romantic relationships despite wanting those connections. She also fears failing. As anyone will tell you, Tinashe doesn't depend on people often and still feels wary when her step-father puts money into her account, so she works hard to not need assistance. She's also terrified of spiders and snakes and will probably punch you if you bring either to her face.

Secrets
Tinashe has been fighting back feelings for Carson Koch for a while now, which was why she was more than happy to go on the tour with Iggy Azalea back in May. While it wasn't on her schedule, it was easier to deal with than acknowledging feelings for one of her closest friends.

Good Personality Traits
Sassy Outspoken Intelligent Down-to-Earth Honest Fearless Compassionate Independent Fierce

Bad Personality Traits
Vain Flirtatious Blunt Headstrong Rebellious Impulsive Stubborn Emotionally-Guarded

Personality
Tinashe had always been a bit of a force to be reckoned with, even as a child. It was one of the reasons why her mother and step-father purchased the home that they did; they needed something that would be luxurious enough to garner attention, but also something that would keep Tinashe active. Not that it kept her grounded or at home because if you asked anyone, Tinashe was a real party girl. Hell, she still is and while she has calmed down in the last year, she's not exactly giving up that scene for anyone. Besides, it fits the image she has constructed since she started getting homeschooled some years ago. After years of physical and emotional abuse by her peers in her prestigious schools, Tinashe hardened the sweet girl she was before and molded herself into a smart-mouthed, tough, flirty badass that takes no shit from anyone. She has the capacity to be a leader, that much a lot of people know. After all, Tinashe would never be considered a follower. She's too unwilling to adhere to anyone else's rules other than her own. Granted, Tinashe knows the rules of life and understands she's not the queen of the world. However, since she was a child her mother grilled into her a sense of self-confidence that enables her the ability to not bow down to anyone, no matter how bitchy or high-maintenance they may seem. In fact, she'd probably tell that person off and not give a damn who heard her. After all, who does she have to fear? A lot of the elite girls she remembers from her youth were more catty and willing to spread rumors; the woman Tinashe is now will gladly fight with her attitude, words and fists if necessary.

Over the years, like her step-sister, she did go through a rebellious stage and again, it was all about the image she constructed. As a child, she had never been allowed to fight the girls and guys who made digs at her and made her middle school years hell, so when she finally was taken away from them, Tinashe refused to allow herself to ever be vulnerable. Around the same time was her parents' divorce and the discovery of her mother's affair, which solidified Tinashe's inability to do romantic relationships. Sex has always easy for her. She can do that. It's never really a walk-of-shame for her. She's not a slut; she doesn't wake up every night with a new guy. That's not in her. But she likes sex and she does it well, and when she finds someone who does as well, why not explore that? They might have great chemistry. She's also the type to simply have fun and chill out, but that can be discussed later. The big thing is that anything deeper than a friends-with-benefits endeavor leaves her wary and even more closed-off. Around Los Angeles and in front of cameras, Tinashe is almost willing to bear a bit of her soul. With that one person who she could possibly spend the rest of her life with (because she's definitely interested in that and is the one-and-done type of girl), it terrifies her. If the happy marriage she thought she saw with her parents couldn't last and the amount of long-lasting relationships in the world ending, what would make her believe that anyone would ever want that with her? Granted, a good chunk of this stems from being told in middle school that no one would ever truly want her and she's become a bit of a sex icon - something to be touched, but never cherished. So, Tinashe contends to this personification of sex and closes herself off when feelings arise, or at least, she tries to.

What ends up surprising most people is the girl Tinashe can be away from cameras or even in interviews - the girl who has actually inspired people despite the image she wants to have. As a girl who has always been book smart and a bit street smart, Tinashe's intelligence is typically a surprise, but not as much as her compassion and her ability to care. She doesn't spend unnecessary money. Sure, she does shop every now and then; she will gladly admit that girlier side of her. She's also one who could do movie nights and play video games with the guys, and have low-key hang-out sessions with friends. She's the one who will shake her ass in the middle of her choreography on stage, but will also promote equality and fight against social injustices on the low. She is the one who looks out for her siblings, even when they don't believe that she is or that she even cares about them, and will gladly cut a bitch off if they come off for someone she cares about. While it is rare for her to be vulnerable around people unless they are closer friends, she is still loyal. Even if someone calls her a slut or even a bit of a bitch, the one thing they can say is that she does have her priorities and as they always have been, close friends and family are her number one priorities. Them and having fun.



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Likes
Sex| Being kissed against walls| Disney Land| Singing and dancing| Vanilla Coke| Dubai| Coachella| Fashion| Cuddling| Caudalie| Rapping| Shopping| Parties| Lingerie| Red Velvet Cupcakes| Video games| The Dodgers| Cooking, especially with her Dad| Watching movies| Spinach artichoke dips| The beach| Red wine| Tae Kwon Do| Moschino| Bath & Body Works| Swimming| Victoria's Secret| Hot tubs| Christmas| Dolce & Gabana| Cold Stones

Dislikes
Seeing someone flirting with someone she has feelings for| Snakes| Anyone who messes with her family and close friends| Cigarettes| Being told what to do| Cocaine| Spiders| Twizzlers| When she catches feelings |Feeling weak and helpless| Veal|Injustice and inequality| People knowing her business| Bullies| Infidelity| Bigotry|Acknowledging her feelings



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History
Most people tend to think that there was never a moment where Tinashe wasn't this outspoken and daring young woman with the sex appeal that would rival some of the greatest, but there was definitely a defining moment in her life. And there was also a point that she was just a regular sweet girl with a dream and a naivety to be rivalled with. That was before her mother married Pierce Collins. Tinashe had simply been the daughter of up and coming designer, Aimee Kachingwe, and food mogul and accomplished chef, Michael Kachingwe. Michael's Zimbabwean cuisine, refined yet eye-catching, was enough to garner him critical acclaim among other chefs, but the real fame and part breadwinner was Aimee. At a young age, Tinashe and her younger brothers did not know of the tensions mounting between their parents because of that small fact. All they had ever seen was really just them existing. The boys were at a private school in New York and Tinashe was in LA in one of the most prestigious schools on the west coast. And she was miserable. Granted, she was doing more than some of the other rich kids. She was already a part of a girl group called the Stunners, who would later go on to perform with the likes of Justin Beiber, New Boyz, Toby Gad and more. However, she was getting the heaviest critiques, not my Hollywood but by the peers she spent a good chunk of her time with. She had developed curves a bit earlier than the other girls and that seemed to be the constant thing to be picked on, as if she were some type of specimen and they were higher beings with their skinny figures. She would get bullied constantly, reminded that fandoms online wanted the other girls more than her. At the time, her mother didn't see that Tinashe was really struggling with the girls and told her to suck it up. They were just jealous and she shouldn't worry. However, the bullying escalated to physical torment and at the same time, her mother's affair was brought to the forefront. Tinashe was about twelve at the time.

Not only did she have to deal with both girls and guys tormenting her about her build and her being a singer on a failing group, but now her mother's scandal was out for the world to see. It tore her family apart. Her brothers couldn't see it; they were about seven. But Tinashe? She was smart enough to know that she no longer had any respect for her mother and that her father was hurting. And, as if to rub salt into the wound, Aimee went on to marry Pierce Collins not too long after she divorced her first husband. Unlike with Alexandra and Owen, there was no long, drawn-out process for Tinashe. It was decided that her staying in LA to pursue her musical career was best and so, Michael took Thulani and Kudzai with him to Arizona in their spacious estate. And Tinashe didn't take moving into her new home, despite Pierce's attempts to win her affection with material goods, well. In fact, once she turned thirteen, the little girl who was getting bullied refused to allow anyone to do anything to her anymore. Actually, not even her mother could do anything to her. Tinashe would simply throw in her face that her newfound love was nothing but trashy scandal like one of the sitcoms she loved to watch. So, she turned to her music and embracing the fast life. As she constantly tells everyone, she never shot anything in her blood stream and the most she has ever smoked was weed, but she definitely mad a rep for herself as a party girl. Hell, she even threw parties whenever Aimee and Pierce weren't home. Granted, at the time, she wasn't exactly being a good role model for her new sister, but Lexi hadn't liked her at the time and Tinashe could care less about some brat who slammed doors down the hall from her. At Pierce's insistence (for which Tinashe did begin to show a bit of gratefulness) Tinashe was allowed private tutors, which only enforced her loud lifestyle, and was even trained in taekwondo, acquiring her black belt in a year and a half. Of course, she would get grounded, Aimee gave lectures, and Michael called to check in on her and make sure she understood what she was doing, but that was the point - she did know what she was doing.

While she was being reckless and having a lot of fun, Tinashe was using the unwanted attention her mother's affair granted her to her own advantage. She was doing mix tapes and performing, even at Dodgers games which became her thing whenever she and her friends would attend baseball games. She was slowly embodying all that the music scene was about: the partying, sex, drinking and she was making it her own with lyrics and poetry combined with sultry tones and the overall sweetness of her breathy voice. It wasn't the best way to go about it, but she was officially signed to RCA Records when she was twenty and released her debut album, Aquarius, which garnered her critical acclaim and an assortment of nominations and awards in the last half a year. But it also cost her her ability to be that sweet girl that her closer friends would know her as. It cost her the ability to allow herself to be vulnerable enough to have meaningful relationships and to see that not everyone wants her to have sex. It cost her the ability to love without feeling like someone was going to take that love for advantage or not want her - all of her. It cost her a bit of her childhood, even if Tinashe won't admit that herself.



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Roleplayer|| Girl2Fine2

Face Claim|| Tinashe Kachingwe

Dialogue Color|| #778C00

So begins...

Tinashé Kachingwe's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller Character Portrait: Aiden Chang
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His unexpected and unwanted interaction with Alexa didn't go as poorly as he expected but he wasn't in the clear just yet. After Ariana advised him of Owen's whereabouts, he exited the kitchen in the opposite direction that Alexa had left in. He and Owen hadn't spoken since he arrived a couple of hours earlier and especially with the lingering guilt related to Alexa, he felt it necessary to catch up with his best friend. The large dining room was just a short walk away but it only took one text message to stop Carson dead in his tracks.

From: Shay
Not feeling the bowling tonite. Kinda trying to not vomit after knowing u felt my sister

Alexa couldn't keep her fucking mouth shut. Could he blame her? Did he really expect that teenager to keep such a secret to herself forever? Probably not, but he wasn't ready for it to get out now. What might have startled him more than anything was when he realized that he was more upset with Shay knowing than Owen. All along, he was convinced that the worst of his problems from this would stem from Owen's reaction to it all. He had slept with his best friend's sister. Sisters alone were generally off-limits, but Alexa was his little sister too. She was like a little sister to him as well, which freaked him out just as much. What he had done was unacceptable and unarguably would ruin his friendship with Owen. So why was he more preoccupied with how Shay was reacting?

Instead of seeking Owen out to either make sure that he hadn't heard about what happened, or to attempt to convince him that it was a lie, he was texting Shay in a frenzy. He wasn't sure how he was going to explain it to her, but her lack of response was driving him crazy. He was scared at how nervous he was about losing Shay as a friend, especially since he knew that he hadn't just betrayed her by taking her sister's virginity. He felt like he had almost cheated on her. That couldn't be right though. Tinashé might have been one of his best friends, but she wasn't his girlfriend. She never would be, and certainly not now since she was clearly disgusted with him.

To: Shay
8:51 PM
I can explain
8:54 PM.
Can we please talk in person?
8:57 PM
I know it sounds bad and I'm not denying that I really fucked up. But can you just hear me out?
9:04 PM
Come on
9:11 PM
Can you at least answer me
9:24 PM
Please Shay. Just let me explain
10:08 PM
Look Shay I'm sorry. Ik that what happened is inexcusable but I swear to god that it was a mistake. You know me. You know I wouldn't sleep with Alexandra unless I was out of my mind and that's exactly what happened that night. I drank way too fucking much and honestly have no recollection of what happened that night. I wish I could take it back and I did everything I could to keep it from getting out bc I wanted to pretend that it never happened. Idk how it happened. It was fucked up to do to you and Owen i get that but plz just realize that it isn't something that i would ever do in my right mind. I can't stand you ignoring me. Can you just talk to me in person?

After reading Shay's text earlier, he had left the main house and spent the rest of the party poolside. Aside from their backyard lighting system, it was dark out, but he had perched himself on a chair and didn't have the desire to go back inside if Shay wasn't going to answer him. For all he knew, Owen was searching for him, ready to knock him out, which was all the more reason to stay on his own. He must have been out there for at least an hour or an hour and a half before he finally trudged back in. Luckily, the house more empty than it had when he had left, and he spent a few minutes wandering idly, hoping that his phone would ping with a response from Shay. By chance, he crossed paths with Aiden in one of the hallways.

"Hey Aiden, good to see you." Although he hadn't had a chance to talk to Aiden much earlier and did want to catch up with him, he was too preoccupied to put too much attention into it. "Have you seen Colette or Shay lately?" He figured that wherever Shay was, Colette was sure to be close by. Maybe he could try talking to her, if Shay still wouldn't respond to him.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins
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Tinashé was being nice which surprised Alexandra enough to make her even more uncomfortable. It wasn't like the girls' relationship was always negative, but lately it had been that way more than it was positive. With the topic at hand, she just wasn't sure how to interpret Shay's response, or her question of how she felt about all of this. She didn't even know how she felt about all of this and though she was nearly positive that she had done more than just sleep naked in the same bed as Carson, she was starting to wish she hadn't. It would have been so much easier if she hadn't texted Shay about this. She could have kept her relationship with him under wraps and continued to hook up with him in secret. That probably would have been better than him hating her, if he happened to find out that Shay knew.

"I didn't have sex with him. I know I didn't," she seemed to decide abruptly, shrugging her sister's hand off of her knee and standing up. She rejected the opportunity for them to have a genuine sister moment because she wanted to save the imaginary relationship she thought she could have with Carson. It was just as impulsive as her original decision to tell Shay, and probably made the truth seem even foggier in her sister's eyes. Although Alexa just wanted the subject to be dropped, Tinashé wasn't stupid and even if she were, Alexandra hadn't done a good job at keeping herself composed moments earlier. She now attempted to balance that out by turning her worried expression into a blank stare. It took her a few seconds, but after she took a few steps away from her sister, she was able to turn back and make eye contact. "Where are my presents?" She probably should have been thanking Shay for agreeing to keep her mouth shut about the whole thing, and even more, she probably should have been being honest, but it had gotten to be too much. She was so confused about what she wanted and what she should share. It was going to be necessary to talk to Carson alone, but not before she got the clothes from Europe that Shay had spoken of earlier.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller Character Portrait: Rose Kensington
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Alexandra was shutting her out.

It shouldn't have been that much of a surprise for Tinashé that Alexandra snatched away from her touch. It wouldn't be the first time. Hell, she probably would have done the same if the roles were reversed. Then again, if the roles were reversed, she doubted Lex would have cared enough to want to talk to Shay. She didn't frown at Alexandra's flippant nature in regards to her inquiries. She wasn't even hurt. All she did was stare just as blankly at her sister as the eighteen year old did to her. The stare match could have gone on for five minutes if Shay's phone had not gone off again. Tinashé's gaze lingered on her sister's eyes for only one more silent second before flitting over to her device. She plucked it off of one of her pillows and unlocked it, staring at the countless text messages, particularly from Colette and Carson.

Tinashé didn't know if Alexandra was genuinely clueless about what happened that night between herself and Carson, or if they actually had sex. Either way, especially considering the distance her sister attempted to put between the two of them, Shay knew she wasn't getting any more answers from Alexandra. Which was fine. Contrary to the question she had posed before Alexandra's admittance, Shay didn't care to know the details. She didn't want to know how Alexandra felt about Carson. She didn't want to know what it felt like to kiss him, to touch him - not from her little sister. She would probably have screamed at Lex if it had come to that and was more than grateful that Alexandra was willing to distance herself from her. It was crucial to them surviving the rest of the night as family.

"Back of the closet," she answered and slid out of her bed, carrying her phone with her. Her voice was bereft of the softness of only a few seconds ago, no longer comforting and Shay couldn't even find it in her to change it. "There are five shopping bags. The only things in shopping bags, really. Have at it." She didn't say anything else nor did she wait for Alexandra to go to her closet. Tinashé mechanically removed her night shorts with no shame at her sister seeing her in her underwear and then yanked on her sweatpants. Not even bothering to slip on some slippers, she shoved her phone into one of the sweatpants' pockets, grabbed the bottle and the glass, and then walked out without a backward glance to her sister.

Her own feelings were in such a jumble and it was a bit much, especially on the first night that all of them would be in this house together. Tinashé had previously thought her greatest issue would be with Ariana. Her patience would be tested by that single individual, surely. Alexandra annoyed her sure, but the sudden abrasive feelings that lay dormant in a body that was too used to action more than silence was disconcerting. She had never had to deal with feelings like these with any other guy. Let it be someone else and Tinashé would have punched him and kept it pushing. She would have moved right along in her life without a real care. Oh, someone laid Alexandra? Well, hope they did her sister right. Otherwise, she'd kick their asses into next Tuesday. That was what she normally would have acted like. Hell, if it had been anyone else in the house that slept with Alexandra, Shay could feel now that she would not have cared. She would have been more invested in the enthusiasm of wanting to know details - would Lex have enjoyed it? Did any of it feel instinctual? Was the guy horrible? She would have cared about her sister's experience, they could have laughed, and it would have been fine...but it wasn't. Because it was Carson. And he wasn't just some guy.

The way the house was set up was that the main section of the home was connected to two different sectors, the larger one which was her destination. It was the sports and entertainment sector. It was the closest, second to the main house, to the pool and could be accessed either by one of the narrower, glass hallways or simply by going outside. Despite the fact the fact that the weather outside would have permitted her current shoe-less state, Shay opted for the other route, ignoring the cool bite of the hard floors beneath her dainty feet and the accompanying chill of the home that was far too large for their family size. Yet and still, in about five minutes, she found herself in the theater complex. The lights immediately flickered on upon her arrival and she immediately spotted the remote control on one of the very comfortable couches, the fabric of it blue velvet. Carefully, she set her glass and bottle down on the white floor beside it before pulling her phone out of her pocket to send her own messages.

To: Colette, Rose
10: 15
Srry bout that. I wasn't feeling well.

To: Colette
10:16
Carson slept with Lex. Don't tell Owen. Plz

To: Carson
10:18
Not telling Owen. Thought u shuld kno

10:22
In the theater

Tinashé had hesitated on texting Carson at all, but her fingers moved without really much thought. Because like he hated her ignoring him, ultimately, she hated ignoring him. She had come back with the intention of spending time with Carson - with everyone - and this wouldn't do. Granted, she also shouldn't be drinking wine, but Shay could hardly find it in her to care. It was better than her being out at a party right now. She'd surely find herself in trouble if she wasn't at least attempting to calm her ways a bit. She had hesitated a bit longer when alerting him to her location, but again, there was no point in avoiding Carson forever. They would see each other tomorrow. And the day after that, and the day after that, and so on and so forth. It would be pointless and truthfully, she didn't want to. She wanted to see him - for whatever inexplicable reason her brain conjured up. She just needed to.

Swallowing the lump in her throat that stubbornly seemed to reside there when she least wanted it, Shay went to the spare bedroom closest to the floor she was on and took out a thick blanket. She fell asleep here all the time and she didn't feel like running the risk that Alexandra would still be in her room deciding on what items she was going to steal. Satisfied with her item, Shay returned to the theater room and plopped herself down on the couch, pulling her lithe legs under petite body to situate herself on it comfortably. She poured herself a glass of wine and then grabbed the remote. In the meantime, she could watch a movie. Maybe it could bring back the normalcy her day had been lacking since Alexandra's declaration earlier.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Aiden Chang
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If Aiden had answered him, Carson wasn't paying attention enough to hear it. Just as he finished asking his question to Aiden, his phone buzzed and she sighed audibly at the sight of Tinashé's name. He frantically slid his finger across the screen to unlock it before reading her text which simply stated that she wasn't going to tell Owen. It was certainly a good thing but it didn't leave him feeling any less uneasy. He wanted to talk to her and explain himself. He needed to know that she wasn't mad at him. "Uh, never mind. Colette just texted me back. I'll see you around, man." It was a lie, but just a white one. He only claimed that he had been texting Colette because he didn't want Aiden to know that he was looking for Shay so frantically. Their conversation was short and ended abruptly, something that Carson would probably feel bad about later on, but for now, he was way too preoccupied with the situation at hand.

Since Shay's response hadn't answered any of his inquiries about talking in person, he decided to call her instead. She had to be somewhere in the house but with its sheer size, it could take him an hour or more to find her. As he expected, no one answered the call but just as it went to voice mail, his phone pinged with another text. This time, it had the answer he was looking for. She was in the theater and without wasting a moment, Carson was on his way there too. He was almost on the opposite side of the estate but with his probably alarming rapid pace, it took him only five minutes to reach the theater doors.

He stepped inside silently and hovered in the doorway for a good minute. Shay was sitting on one of the couches with her back to him and a glass of wine in hand. She wasn't crying, she didn't seem to be shaking with rage, and she wasn't with Colette or Rose. All three of those probably would have been deterrents for him, especially with how nervous he already was.

He cleared his throat and stepped inside. "Hey." He was still a couple of feet away from her but wanted to make his presence known before he got too close. His intention behind that was so he wouldn't startle her, but maybe also so that if she snapped at him, he'd have time to run. He was a foot taller than her and nearly one hundred pounds heavier, but according to Owen, her years of taekwondo training made her pretty fierce. Carson didn't doubt it and definitely wasn't going to test it out tonight.

A movie was playing on the large screen and he almost felt like he was intruding as he carefully positioned himself on the other side of the couch. He wasn't sure what to say, since he had tried to explain himself via text, or where to start, so he figured that he should just get to the point. "You know I don't like Alexa like that." At this point, he wasn't even trying to apologize for sleeping with her sister since he felt like that was what he was going to have to do to Owen. With Shay, he felt like he needed to justify that he didn't like her sister as much as her.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch
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Tinashé had settled on Captain America: The Winter Solider as her film of choice. It didn't have some messy romance storyline that would make her feel any more shitty than she already did. Besides, Chris Evans' abs and cute smile were always bonuses no matter what type of day it was. It was still in the beginning of the movie, after Steve Rogers finished his run with this new guy named Tripp that she heard the doors leading out of the theater creak open and Shay's entire frame tense. Her grip on the wine glass tightened and she pressed her lips together into a thin line, swallowing sudden lump of nervousness. This was Carson, for god's sake. What the hell did she need to be nervous about?

She didn't say anything when he first addressed her. She casually lifted the cool glass to her lips and sipped of the dark red liquid inside, allowing its smoothness to coat her tongue in a blend of dark and luxurious tastes before sliding down her throat. She concentrated on Steve's reaction to Nick's reveal of what SHIELD was trying to accomplish since the discovery of other life forms and sentient beings, body still tense as if awaiting some big thing. She didn't know what she expected to happen by telling Carson to come here. She had just...why did she want to see him? This wasn't going to help. It wasn't like she had the right to be upset and she didn't understand why she felt validated in the aforementioned feeling, but she also couldn't avoid one of her best friends. It just wasn't in her, not for long anyway.

It wasn't until he had sat beside her - carefully, as if she were some fragile porcelain doll or a ticking time bomb just waiting to happen, she noted - that Shay set her wine glass down and sighed, willing her body to relax itself. She shifted a bit, allowing her legs to fold beneath her body in a more Indian-style than before, tugging at the large blanket so that it still covered her. Shay flinched at his mention of Alexandra and despite the small bit of hope his words gave her, she couldn't look at him yet. She didn't want to know what he would see in her gaze, if her emotions were as clear in her eyes as they were to the her that wanted to deny them to the ends of the earth. Still not looking at him, she replied wryly, "Does she know that?"

Tinashé didn't wait for Carson to answer, she just kept on talking, "God, what were you thinking? Seriously, drinking and inviting her over? Damn it, CJ, Owen's gonna kill you if it gets back to him." At that last part, she glanced at Carson fleetingly to press the fact the fact that this was a serious matter. However, quickly afterwards, she averted her gaze back to the screen of the movie she had already seen twice.

While Shay was never in to the fact that Owen felt like he deserved to know every little detail of his sisters' lives and would freak out if Alexandra even breathed in a guy's direction, she could understand his frustration or, at least, what it would be in this situation. His best friend messing with his baby sister. It would piss Owen off and Shay hadn't seen her brother pissed often enough to really not be wary about it. Yet and still, even as she tried to distract herself with the idea that her real concern in all of this was Owen's reaction and how he was going to kill both Carson and Alexandra, her own little annoying voice kept returning, trying to coax more out of her. So, she talked, ignoring his earlier claim of not having feelings for Alex.

"And I get it, I do!" She exclaimed, hands shooting up in a show of surrender. "You might have feelings for Lex and you don't wanna tell me. It's none of my business, I get it. I just..." How was she going to finish that sentence? I don't want you to, her mind answered for her. Don't wanna even think about you two together unless you're helping her with her ABCs, the bitch in her head added and Shay fell silent for fear of saying something she wasn't ready to.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch
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Before he was able to process her words, a wave of relief set in that she was at least going to talk to him. Though the topic of conversation was bound to create an atmosphere of tension, just hearing her voice allowed him to relax a bit. He leaned back slightly against the velvet couch and anxiously ran his hand through his hair. He knew that Shay had every right to question what his intentions with Alexandra really were, but how could she really think that he genuinely had feelings for her? "Of course she knows that!" he responded quickly an in a defensive, yet quiet tone. Did she know that? Maybe not, but what else did he have to do to get it through her head? He had basically spelled it out for her that it was a complete mistake. The horrified shout that had woken her up that morning, as he scrambled to untangle her bare legs from his should have been enough. The way that he had told her that had told her that she couldn't ever speak of it again should have been enough. Or how he insisted that Owen would murder both of them. How she was too young for him. How he had blocked her phone number and essentially ignored her from that morning up until now should have been enough. Maybe it wasn't, but what else was he supposed to do?

He met Shay's gaze but didn't shift his eyes away even after she did. Although he didn't realize that she was upset with him somewhat out of jealousy, he could tell that she was hurt. The way she averted his gaze after a few seconds and continued to shift her attention between the movie and him suggested that she wasn't just worried about how Owen was going to react. Her next statement confirmed it and although she had allowed herself to trail off with her sentence, he jumped in before too much silence set in. "Jesus Christ, there are no feelings for Lex! Not then, not today, not ever. Come on, Shay. You know that! She's... a kid." Saying that probably didn't help his cause and certainly made him hate himself more for doing the deed, but he continued on. "I know that Owen's going to kill me and I deserve that, I guess. I'll have to tell him at some point but I don't want you to hate me." Since when had Shay's friendship become more important than the twenty-year-old one he shared with Owen? Maybe around the same time when he started to want her in more ways than a friend, although he would never admit that that time had even come.

He shifted closer to her. Since when did vanilla body spray smell this good? He had such a strong urge to just pull her into a kiss, but he hesitated. He doubted that the thought of him in bed with her little sister would do much to turn her on and they were just friends. In the moment, it was almost impossible for him to remind himself that.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch
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Apparently, Carson didn't like the silence she left between them because he was quick to reiterate his lack of feelings for Alexandra, which should not have had made her heart thump in her chest the way it did or for the elation at his earnest declaration to suddenly let its presence be known. He also apparently did not care that she didn't want to maintain eye contact for she felt his unwavering gaze digging a hole in the side of her face, which made her inwardly sink further into the seat and away from him. Not that she would have gone anywhere if she had outwardly moved. The little couches in the theater didn't offer much room for people to really not be close and well, Shay was tiny, that much was certain. But Carson was tall and broad and there really wasn't that much space between them in the first place. When he added that Lex was a kid, Shay couldn't stop herself from giving him a look. Yeah, a kid you fucked, her mind shot back and it was seriously on the top of her tongue, but Shay allowed her teeth to sink into her lower lip to keep the words at bay. He didn't deserve that retort, not when it was obvious that he regretted what happened. She would just be rubbing salt in the wound and Shay could be a bitch, sure, but even she knew her limits.

It was when he said that last little line that she truly did look up at him. Was that what he thought? That she hated him now? Because of this? Tinashé exhaled deeply, the whole debacle truly weighing down on her. She didn't want to worry about this situation anymore, even though she knew that everyone in the house was going to be confronted with it eventually. Whether it was because Alexandra gave some random outburst later out of a need for attention or because Carson actually talked to a less than enthused Owen, it was bound to get out. She just didn't want to deal with it, not when it was too close to home. Not when her own feelings were caught up in the mix of it all. At the same time, she couldn't let Carson think she hated him. Biting her lower lip again, Shay turned her entire body so that she was facing him completely, just a bit taken aback by the fact that Carson had shifted closer without her knowing. Stay focused, she had to remind the rest of her because both her body and brain were hyperaware of their closeness. She could feel the warmth radiating from his being and it was a bit distracting, this sudden urge to just relax against him like she did when they had watched a movie once before and she had wanted to get close because he was just really warm and she wasn't exactly being haunted by feelings she didn't think she should be having.

"I..." Why the hell did her voice still sound so fucking small? "I could never hate you, Car." Finally, after getting sick of her head calling her a little bitch and coward, Shay allowed her gaze to raise to fully meet his, and would have wavered if she didn't clench her hands into fists. Since when was it hard for her to look Carson in the eyes? This was just ridiculous! Sighing again, she offered him a small, wry smile. "Even if I wanna punch you sometimes, I could never hate you." She debated her next move for a few seconds, but she couldn't help herself. Shay leaned over and laid her head on his shoulder, pressing her face into the solid warmth of his shirt-covered skin. Her next words probably came out a bit muffled, but she maneuvered so that he could still hear her a bit. "You really know how to ruin a night, CJ. You're lucky you're cute." She was probably going to regret saying that at some point, but for now, she just needed to be close to him.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins
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If the topic of conversation had been anything other than the Carson situation, Alexandra probably would have complained about how easily Tinashé let it go. Even if she was the one to shut the topic down, Alexa would be been offended that Shay didn't care enough to press further. She would dramatically and unjustly accuse her of being a bad sister and ironically, too selfish to care about anyone but herself. Tonight, she didn't even look back at Shay after being directed to her closet. She had tried to confide in Shay about her night with Carson but it was just too much to share when she wasn't sure of what the consequences of sharing would be. It was a relief when her sister's light footsteps soon disappeared and only then did she turn to make sure that she was actually alone in the large bedroom.

Although she had used the request for presents as a way to avoid continuing their conversation, she was genuinely interested in seeing what Shay had brought back for her. After abandoning her for two months, the least she could do was bring her back something nice and at the sight of five packed shopping bags, she didn't know why she had doubted her sister. Tinashé knew how to shop, that was for sure.

Instead of sitting in the walk-in closet and sifting through the clothes, she carried them out, tossed them onto the bed and then closed the bedroom door. It probably would have been easier to just bring them back into her own room to examine, but she didn't want to risk running into anyone in the halls. She didn't want to deal with Oliver pestering her about hanging out, no matter how innocent and sweet his intentions were. She didn't have the energy to respond to whatever provocative remark Jamie would have for. She didn't need to be chided by Ariana about something petty, or by Owen for breathing the wrong way. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see Carson tonight, but she definitely didn't want to see him right now. She was ready to cry and even the sight of a Cartier Love bracelet in one of the bags couldn't keep the tears contained for too long.

She wasn't sure why she was crying, but she was. The situation that she was in was already too stressful, and she didn't even know that Shay had told Carson that she knew, or that Carson had confirmed that it had actually happened to Shay, or that Shay had told Colette. Maybe it was delusional, but she wasn't even crying because she thought that what she had with Carson was a one time thing, because she didn't think that. Maybe she was upset that it was going to be harder to have her perfect fantasy love story with him, or maybe it was because she was just tired and upset that she wasn't getting her way. Either way, it only took five minutes of crying for her to drift into a more peaceful sleep. It was something that she should probably savor, since the black makeup stains she would be leaving on Shay's pillows would probably make for a more hostile wake-up call.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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What a night. Her best friend nowhere to be found. Shay had become one of her only sources of salvation, the other being alcohol. It was no wonder that she resorted to the latter when the former could not be found. It was around that time that the drinks she had earlier also started to catch up to her, forcing her steps to grow heavier with each movement. It was when she leaned against the wall for the needed support that she caught sight of her. (Well, given that she was searching for Ari, it didn’t come as much of a surprise.) Even so, New York has been a temporary sanctuary where she did not have to gaze upon that face every day of her life and be reminded of all the things she could not accomplish.

”Enough to nearly delude myself into believing that I didn’t have a twin.” Her tone was more bitter than ever. Sarcasm has become a strategy when it came to facing her sister, and while Ari’s tone was hardly accusing, Colette has always been known for reading into every word her twin uttered. While at times she did exaggerate the implications behind Ari’s words, there were many times that she precisely hit the mark. Years of living with someone teach you that.

It was blatantly obvious that her sister had ignored her text. If anything it simply fueled her agitation even more. With the passing of a servant by her side, the brunette was a smart enough drunk that she asked for a glass of water to quell the rising feeling that maybe, just maybe, she has had too much. ”Listen to me, Ari.” The sisters’ relationship was more complicated than ever. While it cannot be denied that blood relations foster a sense of familial love that is never completely gone, at this moment her agitation and impulse overshadowed rational sense. There was the light at the end of the tunnel that should her twin be forced into a situation of life-and-death, that Colette would not hesitate to give every support she can, but until then… ”Go after me? Go ahead. I’ve had enough of your bullshit to fertilize a farm.” Even she does not know where she comes up with these sarcastically bitter comments. ”But go after my fr-“ That was where she paused. Merely a pause for when her glass of water was handed to her, and the faint vibration in her hand was followed by the light screen that held two texts from her best friend - the first was ignored in the process of the rant.

From: Shay
Today 10:15 P.M.
Srry bout that. I wasn't feeling well.
Today 10:16 P.M.
Carson slept with Lex. Don't tell Owen. Plz

Her surprise proved to be a greater force than her relief. The sip of water did not make it even halfway down her throat before it was choked into the wrong pipe, causing the young woman to cough and shudder in a painful fit in an attempt to catch her breath. The text had taken her by surprise. Never did she imagine that Carson was behind Shay’s disappearance from the party. And never did she even imagine the scenario of him sleeping with Shay’s sister. About the earlier comment made by Carson to illustrate the Game-of-Thrones-esque familial relationship, this was now taking it on a whole new level. When the string of coughs soon died down, she casted another glance at the screen as to ensure that her drunken state had not made her misread that test. She did not. Those few words on the screen made all the difference. ”This just made everything so much the more complicated.” The murmur was made more toward herself than anything. For those few seconds, she had forgotten of her sister’s presence in the face of more drama. As if they did not already have more than they could handle.

This was why she was growing more and more fond of the idea of an alcoholic. If only she could pretend that the water in her hand was something strong that could wash down this mess of a estate they were going to be spending the next two months in. A cough was used to clear her throat as well as prepare herself for the words that might come next. Setting the glass down, Colette’s gaze toward her twin held far less fire than earlier; in fact, it held a tint of an apologetic glance. ”Is it too late to ask that this conversation never existed?” Don’t tell Owen. That meant that news of this could not leak to Ari. It was not often that she would accuse her sister of doing something she did not do - most of the time, her instincts were right on the mark. Never had she imagined that the source of her best friend’s pain would be from Carson. That bastard. She will raise hell with him later. Surely, Shay was already doing that, being that the situation hit far closer to home for her. Now, Colette was to water down the fire that she had just started.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Just as Ariana had spent the end of the night reassuring her parents that she would take care of her Rockefeller siblings, Owen had done the same with his family. Since all of the kids were staying at the Collins' home, it took a little bit more effort to convince them that things would be fine.

"I know that Alexandra isn't allowed to drink."

"No, Shay isn't going to throw any parties."

"Yes, I'll make sure she's okay. I'm sure Lexi just pissed her off or something. You know how those two can get, Dad."

"We're all just excited to be back together this summer. Everything will be fine, we're old enough to survive a few weeks without you people."

"Seriously, the car is waiting for you outside. You don't want to hold everyone up, Just go or you'll miss your flight."


Pierce and Aimee were the last of the parents out the door and Owen was the only one left waving them off as they disappeared down the long, and now dark, driveway. He couldn't help but shake his head as he walked back inside. No matter how much he had proved himself to be the responsible one, they still didn't think he could handle his sisters. Maybe that was true when they were all younger. Tinashé hadn't trusted him very much, Alexandra was brainwashed by their mother, and he was trying to distance himself from his family's craziness, but now things were different. He was the big brother and sometimes the parent. No matter how much his sisters were annoyed with him, he always put the responsible and safe option before the fun one. Why did his father think that he even had to remind him that he didn't want either of the girls getting in trouble? Owen was probably more on top of the girls about that than even he was.

After stepping back inside the now quiet home, he pulled his phone out of his pocket for the first time in hours. There were a few notifications and unread messages, but before he got to any of them, he texted Ariana. Both of them had spent most of the night separately, but it seemed like more of a coincidence than a planned one. He wasn't avoiding her and she didn't seem to be either. They were simply both forced to mingle more than they wanted to in order to compensate for their siblings lack of care.

To: Ariana
Hey sry for disappearing all night. Had to reassure my dad that we're not going to burn the house down while they're away. Where are you?

Next, he opened Colette's message. It was the first time she had texted him in what felt like forever, and to his dismay, it wasn't the friendly text he was hoping for. In fact, it was nearly the opposite. She had basically stated that Shay and Ari were at each other's throats again. Hadn't he asked Ariana to fix all of this? They couldn't deal with this drama all summer. It then hit him that whatever Colette was referring to was probably what his father had talked about earlier. He had mentioned something about Shay breaking a glass and isolating herself in her room all night. Owen had assumed that it was Lexi's fault, or that she was just as tired as she was expected to be from her demanding tour, but maybe that wasn't the case. Maybe for the first time ever, he was hoping that it was just Alexandra's brattiness that had pissed Shay off.

To: Colette
Huh? What happened?

The last message he opened was from Shay, although it was the first one that had been sent to him that night. It was sent hours before and it read, "Get your sister before I murder her in cold blood". The message forced him into more confusion. Colette's text had suggested that Ariana was the one that Shay was having problems with, but Shay's insisted that it was Alexandra. He wasn't sure what the problem was, or who was causing it, but he knew that he needed to end it.

To: Shay
U mean OUR sister. I didn't ask for her any more than u did. And what did she do this time? Is everything ok? Heard you broke a glass or something and Ik you left me for dead in that dining hall filled with strangers. What's going on?

Little did he know what had gone on in the few hours that he was discussing politics and film, modelling and business with his parents' friends. Maybe it was for the best, because if he had even just known that his best friend was snuggled up with his sister in the theater at that very moment, he probably would have snapped.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Oliver McKagan
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He hated how dramatic he felt, but a wave of relief washed over him when Shay confirmed that she didn't hate him. If she had, he wouldn't have been able to blame her. To start, he had slept with her sister, and little sister at that. Even if she were barely younger than someone like Jamie, it felt so much worse that it had been her. Whether it was her immature and bratty attitude, or just the fact that he had grown up with her as the little sister to his best friend, what he had done with her just seemed that much more wrong. In addition to all of that, he felt like there was something more than a friendship between him and Shay. It wasn't something that he could admit out loud at this point, and he wasn't even sure what it was that he was feeling towards her, but it was different. He had known Colette and Rose forever too, but they were still just friends to him. The way that his mind and body felt as she smiled at him was different than how it was with any of the other girls that he was "just friends" with.

At the same time, he didn't want to just sleep with her. Not only did he know that it would basically be asking for a death sentence from Owen, but he wasn't just looking for sex. If he wanted that, he was sure he could have gotten it years ago. Neither he nor Shay were strangers to having casual sex with people, the time of no-strings-attached stuff that left both parties without the daunting pressure of emotions and heartbreak. Carson wasn't sure how or why Shay didn't have a boyfriend now, but he personally wasn't a fan of dating. Throughout his twenty-three years on earth, he had only had a handful of girlfriends and none of them were ever actually girls that he loved. It just wasn't his thing to invest himself in other people like that. Although he wouldn't consider himself to be someone who was emotionally guarded, pouring his heart out to someone was just too risky for him. He was a friendly and outgoing guy, but he wasn't that open. Besides, he had never met a girl that had really sparked his interest. He couldn't say the same about the girl he was sitting next to tonight, though.

Whatever mediocre response he had planned to reply to Shay with disappeared when he felt her lean against him and rest her head on his shoulder. If he tried to respond, it probably would have come out as nothing more than jumbled stammering. Instead, he slipped an arm behind her and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her closer to him. In that moment, he wasn't stressed about Alexandra or Owen or anything. He was just happy to be there with her. It felt so natural to him that he had gotten comfortable enough to zone out. If you asked him what movie they had been watching, he would have had absolutely no idea. He was so lost in her company that he didn't notice Oliver silently slip into the theater, the flash of his phone camera that had been perfectly coincided with a bright and flashy action scene on the movie screen, or his step-brother leave in just as stealthy of a move. The only thing that brought him out of the trance was a knock on the halfway open door, which was barely audible over the movie playing, and then the voice of a man.

"Miss Kachingwe, Mr. Koch, would you like me to leave your drinks here?" It was a young male worker who had been hired for the night to help with the party. Oliver had sent him into the theater just after he had left, as the perfect coverup for when he would post the photos he had taken of the pair cuddling. It would appear to Carson and Shay that this server had been the one snapping and leaking photos of them.

Though Carson was startled by the unexpected voice, he didn't pull away from Shay as if he was trying to hide being with her. All they were doing was watching a movie. Even if it had been Owen that had walked in on them, what they were doing couldn't have looked that bad. "I'm done for the night," he looked over at the man and the two glasses he had in his hand, before tilting his head down at Shay. Her bottle of wine still sat a few feet away on the floor. "Did you order something?"

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Tinashé remembered when Captain America slowly faded into some other action film that seemed to be a good follow-up when she was actually coherent enough to focus. To be completely honest, after Carson made himself a bit more comfortable by wrapping an arm around her, Shay's mind may or may not have blanked out. She remembered being really warm and snuggling a bit closer to him. However, if anyone ever asked her or came with photographic proof of said occurrence, she might offer a bold-faced lie. Whether or not she chose to acknowledge the truth of the matter does not mean a thing, but the point is that Shay's tough girl act is still very much a façade and she very much indeed loves cuddling. And sitting there, relaxed in Carson's arms despite some futile attempt on her brain's part to remind her that she wasn't supposed to be getting this close to him, Shay felt...safe and who was she to deny warmth?

Tinashé did not remember how they had gotten to the spare bedroom. Granted, at some point, she had dozed off just a bit and recalled Carson asking her about ordering something because one of the servers had come into the room. At the same time, a nice cozy blanket of grogginess had overcome her earlier bad mood and she hadn't been able to give him much of anything save for a mumble on the negative side and practically draped herself over his lap. Which, if she were more conscious and in her right (or wrong, depending on how you would look at the situation) mind, she probably would have blushed and scrambled away with some flippant yet flirtatious comment like, "Oh, couldn't help myself! You're just irresistible." Which still would not have been a good idea, but at least the coquettish antics would have been true to the girl she was more comfortable with being. Yet and still, as the morning light streamed in through blinds her arms were too short to at this distance to close, Tinashé found herself awake and attempting to roll over only to come face to face with a still sleeping Carson.

Her first instinct was to almost panic. She wasn't dumb enough to get in the same, or at least somewhat of the same, situation as Carson and Alexandra, right? She couldn't possibly be that ridiculous. Yet and still, there was no denying the elation that filled her upon realizing that, yes, her clothes were very much still on and so were his. She sighed then, but upon glancing back at his still sleeping face, relaxed back down on the pillow. She didn't know how many minutes went by - two, three, maybe five - that she just stayed there, watching him...taking in the way that his lashes curled just slightly at the tips and how she had never noticed it before, how he looked much younger in sleep, so relaxed...

Tinashé sat up quickly after that, shaking her head as if to rid herself of any other thoughts leading her to do something stupid. She couldn't just forget about yesterday. Couldn't just forget that Lex had text her and Carson had confirmed it and yeah, her sister could chalk it up to her being foolish (which she was), but nothing either of them could say would make the situation go away. It had happened. She was not going to hold it over either of their heads, but she couldn't go back to having a crush on Carson and it being harmless and there being no worries like feelings her little sister might not have told her about. Besides, wasn't the purpose of her tour supposed to be her getting over her crush on Carson?

Settling with that mind frame and resolve, Tinashé cast Carson one more glance before scooping up her phone and leaving the room, ignoring the small part of her that wanted to curl back in bed with him. Normally, she would have simply gone to one of the kitchens and made breakfast. Sure, she might have chefs at her beck and call, but Shay was her father's daughter and well, she liked to cook. And say what you will about her character any other day, but the singer could throw down in the kitchen when she wanted. However, she recalled making plans and sure, there might have been the remnants of a headache due to drinking only a little more wine than the food she took in, she still had plans for the day. So, checking her phone to see that it was about nine in the morning, Shay headed to her room - a little over five minutes of a venture due to the fact that she was actually taking her time. Upon getting there, she noticed Alexandra draped over it and rolled her eyes. "Seriously," she hissed to herself more than anyone else before rolling her eyes and getting to her closet. She would deal with her sister later.

After showering and brushing her teeth, Shay returned into the bedroom area with an outfit lined up along with some Jimmy Choo wedges. The cute printed romper would be enough to both convince Colette that she did not shop at thrift stores on a regular basis and that no, she did not need to talk about last night. Even though her best friend probably would still want to talk anyway. It was after she at least had on her bracelet and necklace, along with the rest of her clothes save for her shoes, that Shay turned to Alexandra and sat on the bed where her sister's face was. "Alright, now that you've hogged my bed..." She would have continued using her loud-but-not-yelling voice had she not noticed the streak of dried tears and makeup on Lex's face. Shay bit her lower lip softly. It was times like these, when Alexandra either didn't know her guard was down or when she actually let her guard down that Shay longed - more than anything - to be the big sister she deserved.

Blinking back emotions that threatened to come to her own face, Shay went to the bathroom, wet a few pieces of tissue just a bit, and returned to Lex's side to wipe the stains away. They could worry about the sheets and blankets later. She wasn't going to be surprised that the cold water against Lex's warm skin awoke her, but she shook her sister a bit and called to her to help along. "Hey, Lex. Wake up. We've got plans today and you better wake up in the next ten minutes or I swear I will jump your ass." She didn't wait for her sister to come with her when she left. She would send staff members up with breakfast in a bit, Shay decided as she slid into her wedges and left the room.

On her way to the kitchen, she glanced at her phone to see a response from Owen. Finally. Responding to him, she sent out a few other texts.

To: Rose, Colette
10: 25
I kno we all need 2 talk, but don't forget our plans 2day. Should I invite Ariana?

To: Owen
Ur 2 l8 & I don't wanna talk anymore

To: Christopher
WAKE UP!!!


To: Carson
WAKE UP!!!! WAKEY WAKEY WAKEY UP UP UP!! Making an omelette, u want 1?

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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It was another one of those nights.

Even with the water, the past few drinks were starting to hit her. Her hand pressed up against the temple of her head, the young woman struggled to actually keep her sister in her line of sight - the world spun so much that, while standing still, Ari seemed to be moving in and out of her focus. "Maybe that's not such a bad idea." The words were slurred, but at least she was still conscious. That, Colette would commend herself for.

Why was she there again? Right. She was mad at Ari; the anger turning out to be largely unjustified. "I'm just going to-" She was finding it hard to search for the right words to express her mind, in the end simply resorting to stumbling away from her twin and toward whichever direction was the opposite from Ariana. In the background, a server's voice seemingly expressed concern, but the brunette simply waved her off. She can at least make it to bed - hopefully. If there was one thing she knew for certain, it was that she was going to have a wicked hangover once this night is over. And what a hell of a night it was. From her pocket she searched for her phone, her eyes narrowing to read over the text once more. It was undeniable, written in that small font. Carson is never going to have kids once she is done with him.

To Shay:
W need t tslk

At least she managed a few letters that went into the words she tried to express. Just as she hit the send button, another faint vibration caught her attention, this one from another one of those mistakes she had made this evening. Fuck. This was going to be one hell of an explanation, and all of this resulted from another bad decision made with alcohol.

To Owen:
Fprgt it

And that was all she managed before the young woman collapsed.




Thursday, July 2nd | 10:00 A.M. | Beverly Hills, CA


Outfit ll Hair ll Bedroom


Pain. A dull, thudding pain.

When Colette opened her eyes, the light that streamed through the window pierced her sight as she groaned into the sheets that were now pulled over her head. Let me guess. Of the pieces she still remembered, they all had one link: Alcohol. How she had even made it into bed was beyond her - in fact, she did not, but a few that remained during clean-up had pulled the young brunette into her room. Another groan was heard when she decided that it was now or never, and threw the sheets off of her clothes that still smelt faintly of alcohol. The bright light was better this time, but that did not stop Colette from rushing over to the window and drawing the blinds close with one smooth motion. God. Why was it that she never considers consequences such as these before she starts drinking?

Now was time for the daily update of "what the hell did I do last night?" Back in the upper east side, if it was not all over social media then it was on the front page of those papers that are designed to entertain the most simple-minded of elites. This time, she chose her phone to remind her of her mistakes, and the first text that popped up was no doubt that from her best friend.

To: Shay
Damn right we need to talk.

This time, her text was coherent, and after sending it and looking over the sent texts, the third groan of the morning was heard from Colette. Her drunken texts sounded like that of an uneducated third grader.

To: Shay
Don't think I've forgotten. Invite her at your own risk. I'm not responsible for any catfights.

To: Carson
Oh after I'm done with you...

To: Owen
If the text from last night was undecipherable, I said forget it. As Ari always says, I was being overly-dramatic.

From there she walked toward the mirror, looking at the smudged make-up and the wrinkled clothes. I look like I just had one hell of a one night stand. There was a difference between actually having one and being seen as having one when none happened. Walking toward where her luggages laid, Colette managed to piece together a presentable set of outfit despite the thousand drums that were going off at once in her head. A Valentino dress was the way to go, chosen for the simplicity that it requires to be put on. And when in doubt, always choose black. For more comfort rather than another source of pain for her feet, high-heeled Prada boots had the same dark color that she conveniently chose. While her outfit was better than what most hungover citizens could piece together, Colette chose to give up on taming the second-day curls, resorting instead to pulling two braids to the back of her head, clipping them in with unnecessary difficulty in actually figuring out how the pins worked.

There concluded her morning routine paired with the sweet sensation of hangover that made her uneasy even thinking about breakfast. However, seeing that Shay was already up, there was only one place she could be. Even if she was not, Colette was going to make that girl give an explanation and she was going to give it good. If Carson still wanted to keep his balls, he would also need a damn good excuse to get him out of this one.

Thus toward the kitchen she walked, her eyes once again suffering from the morning light that streamed through the windows of the estate. Was it only her or did she find windows to be unnecessary at this point? Already, she could smell the food wafting through the kitchen from those early-wakers that she deemed to have no lives. Taking a cup of water for good measures, Colette sniffed out her friend like a police dog, immediately walking over to block Shay's path.

Raising her hand, it was no surprise that Colette's first greeting was: "I know. I look like I just walked out of an episode of the Walking Dead. But you, girl, are going to be so dead if you don't give me a valid explanation."

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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The only positive to being stressed all night that once he fell asleep, he was out like a light. In fact, the hour or two leading up to that was somewhat foggy too. He had no idea what movie they had turned on after Captain America, but halfway through the second movie, she had fallen asleep and he was just as close to doing so too. No amount of tiredness could rid him of the memory of how natural it felt to have her pressed against his body in an intimate, yet non-sexual way. It was comfortable and right, and while he longed to stay there with her nestled against his chest forever, he knew that it was only a matter of minutes before he would fall asleep too. The fear of Owen walking in on them the next morning, regardless of it being a completely innocent night, was enough to get his tired body up. He kept Shay wrapped in her blanket as he lifted the tiny, and now seemingly fragile body into his arms.

His intentions were to leave Shay in her bedroom alone, but it only took a second's worth of a glimpse of Alexandra's lifeless body on her bed for him to make a quick u-turn. He probably could have left Shay there with her. Both of the girls were tiny, especially when compared to the bed's size, but part of him wasn't ready to let her go. Still, he couldn't sleep with her. Even if it was completely innocent, what would happen if someone walked in on them the next morning? It sure as hell wouldn't look as innocent as it would have ten years ago. So, he set out in search of a spare room, now with the intent of leaving Shay there and then going to find his own room. He found one, and gently placed her on the bed before pulling the covers carefully over her resting body. It was much harder to find his own though, as it seemed like every door he opened already had someone occupying the bed. Maybe he gave up too quickly, but sooner than later, he ended up in bed with Shay.

A few hours later, a vibration under his pillow pulled him out of one of the best sleeps he could remember. It took him a second, but he quickly remembered that he hadn't slept alone last night. In a panic, he tossed the blanket off of his own body to find that he was thankfully fully clothed. Or, at least in his t-shirt and boxers. It was enough for him to know that nothing more than sleep had ensued hours before and for that, he let out a dramatic sigh of relief that was matched by a small smile when he opened the text that had woken him. Shay had clearly woken up and left the room before him, and was now in the kitchen. Did she even need to ask if he wanted an omelette? When would the answer to that ever be no?

To: Shay
Of course I want an omelette. Who do u think I am?

The next message he received quickly wiped the smirk off of his face. Colette had found out about what he had done. Even if she didn't outright say it, he knew that she knew, and he guessed that it was Shay who had told her. Though it was going to be one more person to have to swear into secrecy regarding Owen finding out, he should have known that Colette would hear about it at some point. If it wasn't Shay who told her, it would have been Alexandra. He only hoped that twin telepathy wasn't actually real, because the last thing that he needed was Owen's girlfriend to hear about it too. Rather than explain himself via text though, he thought it would be easier to act clueless. What was he supposed to say now, especially when Shay already seemed to be okay with him?

To: Colette
??????????/

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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It wasn't until the cool cloth hit Alexa's face that she woke up. Her initial reaction was the usual one she gave to being woken up, which was an attempt to roll over away from Shay and mumbling, "Go away." She did go away, but not before telling her to get up since they had plans for the day. Yeah right... Alexandra was too comfortable to move, let alone think about the extensive outing that Shay and Colette probably had planned. She would have to leave Shay's bed at some point, but she definitely didn't want to run into Carson this morning. It would have been nice if they could have talked last night. There were so many people in the home that the others all could have been distracted with their own worlds to notice her pull him aside. Instead, she had impulsively texted Shay and ruined the chance at having a relationship with him. At least for now. Maybe she could explain herself to him. Maybe Shay hadn't even told him she knew. The latter would be ideal, and since Carson hadn't tracked her down to scream at her for blabbing, she hoped that maybe it was reality too. Rather than just keep it at wishful thinking, she needed to confirm it. When she finally garnered enough strength to force herself out of her half-sleep, half-awake state, she found her phone on Shay's nightstand.

To: Shay
10:27
I don't want you to tell Carson what I said
10:28
and tell someone to bring me a mimosa
10:29
or i swear i will jump your ass

In case Shay didn't see the message or didn't appreciate her mocking tone, she decided to text Colette and Ariana too. The intercom button wasn't in arm's reach of Shay's bed and Alexandra was still too tired to actually move. Surely one of them would be a good enough friend to send someone up with a drink for her. Rather than send a group chat, she opted for individual ones. Not only was she well aware of the sisters' issues with each other, but she also had to ask them in different ways. Her relationship with both girls was at a similar level, but ever since Ariana began dating Owen, Alexa trusted her less. She was definitely more likely to tell Owen or act as the fun police herself, than Colette was.

To: Colette
Be my bff and bring me a mimosa

To: Ariana
Can you send someone to Shay's room? Martha is good. I think I'm sick and I need her help.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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After making sure that her hair was pulled back just loosely enough to not get in her way and be somewhat stylish enough to make it through the day, Tinashé headed into one of the home's many kitchens only to be surprised at seeing Jamie. Despite her best intentions yesterday, she had not been able to speak to directly or even see the blonde. Granted, it probably had something to do with Jamie having never left her room for the summer. Still, Shay didn't know that and genuinely felt a hint of remorse at leaving the party early without at least saying hello to Jamie. Owen being upset that she abandoned him? She could give zero fucks? An actually intelligent individual whom Shay liked to sit and talk with? That was someone she could feel bad about. She smiled a bit for the one of many summer roommates she was bound to interact with now that they were all together. "Hey, Jamie. Sorry about not saying hi last night," Shay said as she stepped into the spacious area. She loved the kitchen and there were a good number of times when she was on tour that she ended up cooking for everyone in her bus because she hated the idea of fast food or stopping at some restaurant. Her eyes ran over the kitchen pensively before she hummed. The smell of waffles, only the start of what the kitchen staff would do since she and Lex typically weren't always up at this time, filled the air. "Making more food and a few drinks if you want anything." Shay turned to the fridge to at least make a few drinks when a few of the kitchen staff came back, inventory in their hands.

"Good morning, Miss Kachingwe. Miss White." Shay offered them the same smile she bestowed upon Jamie. "Morning, fellas." Hans, one of her favorite chefs to work with, smirked at her as she pulled out some strawberries and a few other ingredients. "I'm guessing you need assistance with breakfast?" Shay beamed. "Yeah, if you could get started on the mimosas and maybe some refresher drinks, that would be great. Ooh, and if Charmaine could go back to making waffles in case anyone else wants them, that would be awesome. Oooh, and also, get someone to send a mimosa to my sister. She's in my room and is probably gonna want one. Everyone else could take a break for the rest of the morning." And no one argued and went about heeding her warning. Whenever Tinashé decided to take over the kitchen, it meant that she needed to be in the kitchen. The staff had learned some time ago that trying to thwart her only left them getting plates and the like thrown at them, and Pierce begged for that not to happen again. Smirking at the memory, Shay pulled out her phone again so that she could send some text messages before setting it down on one of the counters. It was probably a shame that Shay didn't include Ariana in that mass text, but she also didn't talk to the eldest Rockefeller. She didn't have her number, so she needed to send Owen a message about his girl.

To: Owen, Aiden, Lex, Chris, Rose, Oliver
Making breakfast if any1 has a preference.

To: Owen
Also, if u expect me 2 b nice 2 ur girl, I'd advise u send her ass 2 come get food.

Leaving the drinks and waffles to the other two chefs, Tinashé was set to get her other ingredients when a lone figure stood in her way. Shay didn't even move at that, only taking in her friend's classy yet still somewhat disgruntled appearance. She could tell Colette had not had a good night whereas Shay, despite everything that occurred, slept pretty comfortably. "Well, damn, no 'good morning, bestie?' No 'wow, you actually look like you tried this morning.'" Shay exclaimed, putting on a mocking impression of a typical Colette act. It was probably just a bit off, but it was her trying to get the tension of yesterday out of the air. Especially considering Jamie was still in the dark. Shay hummed thoughtfully as she stepped around Colette to get some eggs, milk, cheese and a few other ingredients for omelets. She was also going to sauté some potatoes and maybe some stand-alone scrambled eggs and meats in case no one wanted an omelet. It was probably a lot, but Shay needed the action. Needed the business. If there was anything she knew, it was that she could do very well in the culinary arts world if her music career did not work out.

"And there's nothing really to talk about...right now," she continued, setting everything on the kitchen island and then going back to find some vegetables. Satisfied with what she had, she set to work by chopping. "They fucked, neither of them even remember getting in bed together, I was mad and talked to him, and that's really been the end of it. No secret relationship anyone should know about and for the love of all that is holy, do not tell anyone else." Shay tossed Colette a look before returning her gaze to the task at hand. Her phone buzzed on the counter with a response from Alexandra and Carson, conveniently, and she smirked at his message followed with a roll of the eyes at Lex's. A beat later, a shadow passed over her face and she sighed, pausing in her onslaught on the spinach leaves she had just washed off. "I have absolutely no idea what to do right now, Bitchlette," Shay murmured, not because she was trying to keep anything from Jamie but because her voice suddenly was smaller with feelings that it was too early in the morning to be confronted with. However, it wasn't like she could stay in denial forever.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Oliver McKagan Character Portrait: Jamie White Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Ariana had seen Colette wasted too many times to show as much concern as the servers cleaning up around them did. Her eyes followed her sister's staggering form until she turned a corner and was out of sight, at which point Ari decided that she should probably be heading to bed too. While it was probably expected that she would spend her nights in Owen's room, she had requested her own bedroom as well. She needed a place to store her things and a place to get away to if she was ever feeling reclusive and with the surplus of space in the Collins' home, it wasn't a problem. Although she was leaning towards sleeping on her own tonight, she reconsidered the social repercussions. It would probably lead at least a few of the others to suspect that maybe she and Owen had had a fight, or more accurately, that she wasn't as into him as she portrayed. Most of the others probably wouldn't pick up on it, but Colette would. While Ari suspected that her sister wasn't going to be in any state to analyze anything tomorrow morning, she wasn't going to risk it. Just as she pulled out her iPhone to text Owen, she found that he had beaten her to the punch.

To: Owen
Omw to your room ;) Had to deal with my sister

Although Colette wasn't in the best state, at least Ariana knew that she was alive... for now. The same couldn't be said of her brother, who she hadn't seen all night. A quick text was necessary to insure that he was actually still on the premises.

To: Christopher
You better be asleep

On her way to Owen's room, she nearly collided with Oliver, whose eyes were focused on his cell phone as he turned the corner leaving the theater. Normally, Ariana would have scowled at him and told him to watch where he was going, but the focus and elation directed at his phone screen was all too familiar to her. It either meant that Alexandra had agreed to date him, or he had received insider information on someone for one of his blog posts. The latter seemed all the more likely.

"What are you doing down here all alone?" Her stare was intense and piercing to a point that she knew it wouldn't take long for him to crack.

"I was... uh, watching a movie. Yeah, watching a movie. Captain America." It was just his luck that he would suddenly draw a blank to the room that he was coming out of.

"Really? A movie all alone? Your little blonde girlfriend isn't with you?" Ariana's eyes shifted between him and his phone, which she grabbed before he had a chance to answer. It was still unlocked, providing easy access to the freshly snapped photos he had taken. The photo wasn't the best. Although it was clear that the side profile of the male on the couch was Carson, Tinashé's head was nestled on Carson's shoulder, making her face invisible. Ariana knew that it was her without a second thought, but it would be easy to claim that the girl was someone else.

When she had first stumbled upon Oliver, she suspected that maybe he had caught Christopher and Shay or Alexandra making out, or with her brother's track record, maybe even one of the young female servers. It would have made sense for it to be Carson or Aiden and one of the party guests, and she probably would have even believed it to be Rose and some stranger over Carson and Tinashé. Granted, they weren't actually doing anything sexual in the photo, but since when were they that close of friends that they wrapped themselves around each other like that?

Oliver wasn't sure how to react when she took his phone and silently reacted to the photo. He wasn't going to deny that he had taken them, since she had basically seen him leaving the theater and was the one person who knew that this was in his character, but he really didn't want Ariana being the first to see it. Honestly, Oliver lacked enough romantic experience to even think that Shay and Carson were anything more than friends. He genuinely believed that they were just relaxing and watching a movie together, but assumed that the angle he had taken it at would force people to speculate that they were more than just friends, even if he didn't believe that.

He opened his mouth to try to explain, but Ariana cut him off by tossing the phone back at him and waving down a passing server. "Would you mind getting two Malibu Bay Breezes for me? You can bring them into the theater." Oliver might had been able to hide his blog for years, but Ariana knew that he needed a good fake out to disguise the fact that he had taken the photo. The Collins' house had ample security. No one was going to believe that the paparazzi had magically found their way inside. They needed a beard and the idea of some low-paid server wanting to make a quick buck by selling a picture of celebrities to some seedy gossip blog would work well enough. When the man disappeared, Ariana turned back to Oliver. "You're going to wait to post those until I tell you to." It wasn't a question, request or suggestion. It was an order, and Oliver knew it. He was grateful when Ariana ended the conversation on that note and they both took off in opposite directions for bed.



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Despite a reasonable amount of anxiety regarding his encounter with Ariana the night before, Oliver was able to sleep soundly for a good nine hours. He was showered and dressed by nine and spent an hour and a half on his computer attempting to draft a post for the photos he had taken the night before. By ten-thirty, it seemed hopeless. He had posted pictures of Shay and Carson before, but none of them had peaked Ari's interest like this one. That only spelled trouble for him, and although he didn't mind dishing out harmless gossip on his friends, he didn't want to hurt either of them like he was beginning to believe the Rockefeller did.

He expected that at this time of day, most of the energy would be accumulating in the kitchen and he was right. As he walked inside, he first spotted Tinashé working with food by the counter. "What's cookin', good lookin'?" he rattled off, making his presence known as he stepped in further. Despite thinking himself to be the master of cheesy pickup lines, none of them ever seemed to get him more of an eye roll in reaction. Colette was standing close by, but Oliver didn't expect her to respond if he greeted her, so he continued past the pair and towards Jamie, who sat at a table. She had a plate of half-eaten waffles in front of her and while they smelled tempting, he decided to wait for whatever Shay was cooking. "G'morning!" he smiled as he sat down across from her. He hadn't seen Jamie all night, but that was nothing knew. They were too close for him to need to question how she had spent her night. "What are the plans for today?" He assumed that he would be hanging out with her more than anyone else this summer.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Oliver McKagan Character Portrait: Jamie White Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller Character Portrait: Aiden Chang
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Thursday, July 2nd | 6:00 AM | Beverly Hills, CA | Collins' mansion





Aiden has gotten up. Sleeping in has never been a habit in his dictionary and he's always being known for rising up with the sun ever since he was young. It was just 5:00 AM when he woken up so after brushing his teeth, making up his hair a little bit and changed into a better attire, he went out of the mansion for some jogging and working. Aiden figured that he was the only one got up at that time anyway so he didn't go and check on the others. As he made his way out of the mansion, the only ones who he came across with are some maids and butler of the mansion.

Aiden took a deep breath at the morning fresh air as soon as he stepped out of the house. He has always enjoys the atmosphere here at Bev Hills in the sunrise. Within a busy lifestyle of a celebrity, Aiden can always find smallest of things that can make him feel relaxed and happy. He stretched his arms as he began to jog from the mansion around the streets near there. Not many paparazzi and stalkers are going to work around these times so you can say that Aiden got plenty of freedom. As he was jogging, it seems that there are still people that realized him on the street. He just smiled back and waved his hand to them as he kept running.

With that said, Aiden jogged around the neighborhood for an hour or so before returning back to the Collins' mansion. As he returned, he swept the sweat drop on his forehead before entering. More people seemed to have risen from their slumber, but Aiden hasn't see any of his friends yet. Aiden was thinking about taking a nice, warm bath first and decided what to make for breakfast after that. He's got a long day to go and he's not going to waste it. In fact, this summer is going to be epic.




Thursday, July 2nd | 9:30 AM | Beverly Hills, CA | Collins' mansion





After immersing himself in a nice, warm bath full of bubbles and lavender scent, Aiden felt more refreshed than ever. It's been a while since the last time he's got a chance to relax and stretched his muscle like that and he knows he's gonna treasure every second of it. After wandering around the mansion a bit, Aiden has managed to memorize its rooms and structures alike. At least he's not going to get lost in this seemingly endless mansion.

Suddenly, Aiden realizes that his stomach is growling with him. Well yeah, everyone's expected to get starved after a long, nice work out like that. If he was going to make something for breakfast now this is the good time as ever since the others might be awaken soon and it might be nice to make a first impression by making somethings for them to fill their stomachs. Aiden has always been a thoughtful person anyway so you can't blame him for caring about the others so much that sometimes he did forget to take care of himself.

With that thought, Aiden made his way to the kitchen. Well, he wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't anyone here just yet, except for a maid who is cleaning around. "Oh, good morning, Mr. Chang." She held her mop next to her and bowed to Aiden, "I supposed that you were having a great time around here. I'm sorry that Hans, our chef, hasn't up yet so there aren't anything for breakfast for now."

Aiden smiled and brushed his finger through his hair. It was quite a habit of himself when talking with others. "Oh, it's okay. There's no needs to be too formal around me. And yeah, I was thinking about making something for breakfast for myself and the others, anyway. Is it okay if I use the kitchen? I supposed that no one would mind. You can continue with your job."

The maid nodded as she continued with what she was doing. Aiden then cracked his knuckles and grabbed an apron nearby then wear it on before looking around the kitchen. "Okay, let's see what can I do..." There are probably thousands of ingredients around the kitchen anyway and he's not in the mood to make something too complex anyway. In the end, he decided to make some red velvet cupcakes. Well, hopefully the others would enjoy it though.

Aiden grabbed the ingredients he needed and put each specific ones into two different bowls and make the batter for the cupcakes. After he finished making it, he picked two large baking pans from a drawer on the counter and dozens of cupcake liners. Putting the liners into each cups of the pans, he filled the batter into the liners with a good ratio for each. When all the liners had been filled, he carefully carried the pans to the oven and started baking them. Nodded to himself, Aiden smiled to himself in a satisfied fashion. For now, he can leaves the baking for the oven to take care of. Krystian has been bombing his phone with text messages since morning and Aiden couldn't possibly leave his lover hanging like that so he stepped outside to the garden, still wearing the apron while replying for Krystian's mountain of messages.

A while later, Aiden made his way back into the kitchen after receiving Tinashé's text message and found that quite a few of his friends, including Tinashé herself, were there. It seems they're doing different jobs though the atmosphere is normal. "Hi guys, seems like you guys are enjoying your morning, isn't it?" Aiden smiled light-heartedly as he walks in, gaining everyone's attention. He turned to Oliver and Jamie, "Didn't see you two last nights but hoping that we're going to have a great day." Aiden said cheerfully and turned to Colette, "Hey Colette."

Aiden then grabbed a pair of gloves and turned to Tinashé, who was standing nearby and cooking for her own. "Just got your message. Well, I hope that I can borrow your kitchen. Would you mind if I'm helping a little bit? Just wanted to do something for you guys while I'm still here." Aiden scratches the back of his head and giggled innocently. He puts on the gloves as he took the pans out from the oven. Aiden picked a small bamboo stick and dug it into a cupcake to check if they've been baked well enough.

While waiting for the cupcakes to cooled down, Aiden began to work on the frosting. While he was doing his job, he turned to Tinashé and asked the younger girl with yet another bright smile, "So, got any plans for today, Shay?"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Oliver McKagan Character Portrait: Jamie White Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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In Owen's case, ignorance was bliss. His day might have been less than perfect due to the stress that Alexandra always brought upon him, but it ended in the best way possible: next to Ariana. He was already on his way to his bedroom when she texted him that she was headed there too, and once the door was shut behind them, his stress disappeared too.

He hadn't even slept for very long, but when he woke up at seven-thirty, he felt well-rested. He wasn't tired enough to fall back asleep but also didn't have the energy or desire to pull his arms away from her warm, bare skin. He remained, drifting in and out of sleep, until almost ten o'clock when she woke up. "Morning, beautiful," he smiled at her as she rolled over to face him. As he studied her barely-awake face, her disheveled hair and undressed form, he couldn't help but to think about how lucky he was. He was lying in the same bed as the girl that every boy their age swooned over during high school, and even to this day. Regardless of them dating for a year now, he still admired her like the first day they met.

After a few minutes of cuddling, she pulled away from him to shower. His eyes didn't shift from her until the door closed, at which point he decided that he should probably shower too. Unlike her, he slipped on a pair of boxers after leaving the shield of his blankets. Not only was his bedroom cold, but he also needed to find an empty bathroom since she was in his, and well, no amount of scantily clad modelling shoots could make him comfortable with the possibility of running into one of his siblings of friends naked. Before he left his room, however, the bathroom door swung open. She was only peeking her head out now, a shyness that was unnecessary since they had spent countless nights together, but also cute enough to make him smile.

"Babe?" It was already obvious that his attention was focused on her, so she continued without waiting for a confirmation that he was listening. "I didn't want to bring it up last night, but it's kind of been bothering me all morning." He was confused at her nervous tone, but aside from taking a step closer to her, he didn't cut in. "Last night, before I came up here, I was looking for Christopher and one of the staff told me that they had seen him in the theater. I went in and... I don't even know how to put this... but I think I saw Carson and Shay making out on one of the couches." She paused, probably expecting him to shout some expletive and storm out to kill Carson, but he didn't. He needed a second to process what she was saying, but after he repeated the sentence a few times in his head, he concluded that it couldn't be true. The theater must have been dark. It could have easily been someone else. Ariana had even said herself that she only thought it was the two of them. She wasn't certain and Owen had enough trust in his best friend and preferred sister to take that bit of doubt as enough reason to think the claim was false.

"Carson and Shay? No, they wouldn't be doing that. Shay went to bed early last night, anyway. There's no way that could have been them. Maybe it was Rose..." Though he was speaking aloud, he was speaking more to himself as he tried to reassure himself that there was no way that it could have been the two of them. He shook his head to confirm it to himself again. "You're probably right. I'll meet you downstairs once I'm ready. Make me some tea?" She smiled when he nodded and just as she disappeared behind his bathroom door, he turned to head out to one of the hallway bathrooms.

His shower took far less time than her's and he was dressed and headed downstairs in twenty minutes. Ariana's suggestion that there was something going on between Shay and Carson was still bothering him, but he was pretty certain that there was no way it could be true. Many of his friends have tried to make a move on Tinashé before, but Owen couldn't even imagine Carson doing something like that. He had grown up with Shay in his life for as long as Owen had. Granted, they didn't live together and weren't bound by parental relationships, but he wanted to believe that Carson would see her as being off-limits too.

By the time he reached the kitchen, he had convinced himself that the claim was bogus and was in the process of picking his mood back up. The smell of a homemade breakfast waiting for him made that all the more easier and as he stepped inside the bustling room, he found many of his friends in there as well. Colette, Tinashe and Aiden were hanging out by the counter tops, while Jamie and Oliver sat at the long table. "It smells good in here. What are you making?" he said as he passed by Shay, Aiden and Colette. Aiden seemed to be making cupcakes or some type of dessert, while Shay was cooking a meal... probably omelettes, he decided after a quick glimpse of her ingredients. He waved at Colette, but decided not to bring up the text she had sent the night before. The last thing he wanted was for more drama to ensue, especially when Ariana's earlier claim was still itching at the back of his mind.

He took a seat at the kitchen table, opting to wait to make Ariana's tea until the stove area was less occupied. Jamie and Oliver were talking to each other, so he offered them both a quick wave before returning his attention to the trio standing near the oven. "Ariana's showering but she'll be down in a minute." He doubted that any of them were as interested in seeing her as he was, but it was his way of answering Shay's text message from earlier. Besides, he did want the two to talk at some point today. They needed to sort out their issues before the summer began. "Do you girls have any plans for today?"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Oliver McKagan Character Portrait: Jamie White Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller Character Portrait: Aiden Chang
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Upon hearing footsteps, Tinashé shook her head as if to clear herself of unwanted feelings and set to continuing her task. She had already pulled out four pans for the stove burners with only three of them having oil in them. The vegetables and meat she had lined up for omelets were mostly cut up, so she tossed a healthy amount for the first omelet into the first pan. The sizzle dispelled the air between herself and Colette, and allowed for her to smile upon hearing Oliver's voice. She turned to him with a playful glint in her eyes. "Nothing much, hot stuff." She replied to him with a wink before glancing at Colette. "We can talk more later," she explained, giving the other brunette a pointed look. Them trying to discuss something that Shay was purposefully trying not to allow to get back to Owen was only going to end with Owen blowing up at everyone. And it was too early in Shay's summer for her to allow that to happen.

Instead, she focused on her cooking, seasoning the vegetables and ladling in the egg concoction in a separate pan so that it could hold the vegetables. She was making Colette's first and made it just the way her best friend liked it. Hans, sensing that she was getting close to finished with the first omelet, slid over a stack of plates and Shay only smiled appreciatively. Once she had tucked the cooked foods into the egg and folded it, it slid beautifully on the first plate and once that was finished, Shay handed Colette her plate. "You should probably get a glass of that limeade Hans is making. It helps with hangovers." Tinashé gave her friend a pleading look, begging Colette to drop the conversation only to turn to fully distract herself with Aiden's presence.

"Hey, love. Not a problem at..." Shay trailed off upon seeing Aiden pull out red velvet cupcakes. She and her fellow artist weren't particularly close, but she definitely loved him more of his desire to do something for the group included her favorite cupcakes ever. She offered Aiden a small pout. "Dude, you can't be tempting with cupcakes this early! Not my faves! They look awesome." She exclaimed, grinning at Aiden good-naturedly. This was good. This was great, in fact. Yesterday had been plenty stressful and she wasn't anticipating the others' (more Lex and Ariana than anyone else) presence. She was good with dealing with someone as simple as Oliver or someone she could be creative with like Aiden. Plus, she would have her girls by her side and could possibly forget all about her brother not -

Tinashé hissed, "Shit," under her breath upon hearing Owen's voice. Gritting her teeth and not answering Aiden's inquiry about her plans for the day, Shay had to take a deep breath. She had promised both Alexandra and Carson that she would keep their secret, which now that she thought about it, was an easier feat said than done. Not that she had never kept a secret from Owen before. There was that time where she had brought a guy over and drunkenly made out with him in Owen's bed, but stopped it and cleaned up the room before Owen would ever find out. There was that time when she flirted with one of his other guy friends and definitely exchanged some...less than appropriate texting sessions. There were a few other occurrences, but none as serious as this. Not to mention her own reaction to it and how Owen was probably still a bit concerned about her texts. She tried hard to not allow the tension to be too visible in her form when Owen's questions sailed through the room and upon finishing the second omelet, grabbed the fresh plate and walked it over to the table, tossing her brother a slight smile. "Nothing too big. My girls," and she pointedly emphasized the "my" out of the statement, "and I are getting pampered at Caudalie today and I thought we could really just relax on Abbot Kinney. See some clothing stores, maybe a bookstore." The last part was added for Jamie's sake, partly, but also because Shay needed to add more to her own library. "I'm sure you've got something planned for the guys, but I thought we could meet up for dinner at Providence and then have a little fun at Greystone Manor."

Shay didn't fail to give Owen a pointed look as she slid the plate in her hand to Oliver nor did she really care about Ariana. Shay changed her mind. She didn't want to be nice today, not someone she could give two fucks and a quarter about. To her sister she could be forgiving and attempt to not want to throttle. To Ariana? It was bad enough they were in the same house, she didn't want to deal with her any more than she had to. Not after last night. "And don't think that I'm not having fun this summer 'cuz you wanna be a stick in the mud," she griped before casting her gaze over Jamie. "And don't think you're excluded from having fun with us today, Jamie. I haven't seen you in a while, ma'am." She spoke that time with a smile before heading back to the stove and working on another omelet.