Red Bravado

White Noise

It had to at least be noon right now, the way the breeze peeked through the curtains of your bedroom window gave it the whole 'afternoon' vibe. The birds chirped outside, enjoying the rare sunlight that peeked out of the usual clouds today.
Thats right... Today was summer. The 5th day of break, or was it 6? Your blasted memory did oh-so-little for you, but luckily was strong enough to drag your ass through school. Thanks to the motivation of your friends, disgruntle older sister and your online chums, you were an overachiever and passed with the 4.0 GPA your mother had always wanted you to have.

"(Y/N)!" Your sister, Brook, yelled from the hallway, which sent you onto your feet and out of the cold room. "Yeah?" You sighed and rubbed the back of your neck, tired and irritated. For one, being pulled out of your cozy bed, and two, being pulled out of the trance you were in. White noise had always put you in that kind of mood.

"Hey! Are you even listening to me God damnit?" Brook snapped and crossed her arms as she looked over to you, casting a rather mean glance at you. "Yeah, Yeah... What do you want?" You huffed and rolled your eyes at her, wanting to know what was so damn important.

"We've gotta go to the park, remember?" She nodded, and pointed to the family schedule, and indeed 'PARK PICNIC' was scrawled across the May 28th square. "Ugh... Fuck. Fine." You sighed, being honest here, they were the worst. It was a collection of sticky gross toddlers and their white suburban moms who make the 'fun pizza'. And you thought it was just a tumblr joke.

But no, it was a collection of white moms and smoking teenagers with the sexual need of a whale. And then, just a little sprinkle of normal kids. Your friends to be exact. Jules, Gamzee and Kanaya all showed up each year and hung out with you till something stupid and horrible happened and you guys scattered off from police.
Last year a child choked on some Blackjack pizza, and like a meeting of PTA moms, real pizza was banned and the fun pizza took place. Fucking moms and their Pinterest ideas. Regardless, Jules' mom was chill enough to actually smuggle some in for you guys each year, and bring a box of Dilly bars from DQ.

The sharp pain that scurried up your foot snapped you out of your daydream, you had slammed it into the downstairs table by accident and now was screaming out on an F# the holy grail of curse words, the motherfucking-whore-bag word.

Tears pricked in your eyes as you looked down to the poor foot and sniffled as you withdrew from the douche of a table, and headed upstairs with an armful of todays outfit. A simple tank top, and some dark orange shorts. You found these in Brook's closet and fell in love, and ensured Brook to hate it by ironing on a Tepig patch on the side of the leg. She hated your little 'nerd games', aka, Pokemon.

Within a good 5 minutes, you were dressed, fresh and ready to go burn in the fiery sunlight with your pale friends, and eat greasy pizza as you discussed the school-year and summer plans you had in mind.
Brook came in your room holding a container of chocolate cookies for the picnic, "C'mon nerd, we don't have all day." She grinned softly, and lead you downstairs to the car outside. With a lock of the door, you opened up the sky blue Honda door, and was greeted with a blast of warm air, scented like cherries.

The heat of cars during the summer always made you nauseous and queasy, and it got even worse when someone had a scented tree in there. By far, cupcakes and Black Ice had to be the worst smells in a baking car. Irrelevant.
You sighed and breathed through your mouth as you strapped in, and sat the cookies down in your lap. Brook crawled in and shoved the keys in the ignition as she smiled slightly, and turned it on.
The AC blasted on and began to spew wonderful cold air at you as she slowly pulled from the driveway, eyes fixated on the rear-view mirror.

You slumped back, staring at the sidewalk as the scenery began to change from the welcoming suburbs to the grassy fields of the park. Brook always felt the need to speed when she drove, despite the many tears in the ass your mom gave her when she drove. She wouldn't ever learn.

...

You sighed as you slumped down against the large oak tree, feeling sweaty and queasy as the overpowering scent of sunscreen danced through the air, children laughing and running around in the open field as you hogged the largest portion of shade you could find,

God Damnit, why did it have to be 97 degrees today?!

Within a few minutes, a dark purple van pulled up alongside the petite blue Honda, and out poured 4 kids of different sizes and shapes. Out walked the skinny lanky boy you knew as Gamzee, and a tall and thin girl with porcelain complexion, Kanaya.
Two smaller girls got out, while the blonde one was the shorter one than the brunette. Rose was the smaller one, and Jules was the taller one.
Jules took off across the field after spotting you and laughed as she tackled you down into a massive hug, "(Y/N)!" She gasped, "I haven't seen you in forever!"

You wrapped your arms around your cheery friend and laughed softly, "I know! It feels like forever!". The three other dorks showed up as well, smiling warmly as they gave hugs and hair-ruffles. Within a bit of catching up, you all were slumped against the tree laughing and talking.

Maybe today's picnic wouldn't be so shitty after all.