Paper Moon ☓ Hood [ON HOLD]

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i burned out out like a bright light
i wasn't ready for this
you're adorable as hell
but i'm glancing at your wrists

☾

"Story time!"

Asher giggled uncontrollably at the video, her laughter getting louder and louder each time the video repeated on her phone. Asher held her arm out to Marceline so she could see, while craning her neck to watch Marcaline's reaction from her uncomfortable position on the bed.

"Their reactions are priceless!" Asher squealed and proceeded to mock what the people had said in the video with ridiculous voices.

Asher was sprawled across Monique's bed with her head hanging off the side and Marceline also had her phone in her hand to text Michael. Monique was currently buried inside her closet sorting out the clothes she would keep and the ones she'd donate.

Occasionally Monique would emerge wearing some weird outfit and all three of their eyes would shine with nostalgia and they'd all burst into laughter at the embarrassment they'd ever wear such things. There had been appearances of obnoxiously coloured materials and raggedly cut plaid skirts and even a pair of pale roller skates in the corner.

So Asher and Monique would enthusiastically act out the misfortunate events of their first social, giggles filling the room ("Look how many glowsticks I have Monique! I have way more than Daniel." "But Peter, Daniel's got a bouncy ball that lights up when you bounce it, that's way better than your glowsticks."), but nothing could stop the collective sigh that escaped them when they all remembered.

"I can't believe you're leaving." Asher groaned for what seemed like the hundredth time that afternoon. "After you leave there'll only be three of us girls, like, what are we going to do when we have to get into pairs?"

"Marcaline will probably be able to go with Dylan then." Monique replied. Her tongue jutted out in concentration as she tried to secure her old tutu round her waist.

"But it won't be the same." Asher whined, dropping her phone next to her.

Asher yawned and rolled over in the bed, Marceline herself felt pretty sleepy as the unexpected warmth of the fine day became a huge contrast to the usual cold winter ones.

"Marcaline hasn't parted from her phone since lunch, you do know we're going to read your conversation Marcaline, you seem to be giving more details of the date to Michael than us." Asher giggled shifting her hands under her chin.

Marcaline's date with Dylan had gone alright. They'd gone bowling at the new place that had opened up and it was a pleasant surprise to see Brianna there. It turned out it was the same place she got her new job and Marceline was a little thankful that there was someone to lighten the awkward atmosphere.

Marcaline was absolutely terrible at bowling and Dylan took the opportunity to pull one of those cheesy moves. His arms had wrapped around Marcaline's small frame and caused her breathing get irregular. They got the ball to knock down all ten pins and Marcaline clapped her hands to celebrate, turning around to see Dylan. But his eyes seemed to look past her, fixated on someone behind her which confused Marceline once again. But she just brushed it off.

A honk of a horn outside made all three girls jump, followed with a quiet chuckle from all of them. Monique made her way out to her balcony and exclaimed at the sight of Brianna, the other two soon following.

"Sorry I'm late for the sesh, but I'll shout you guys some coffee if you want. Let's go!" Brianna shouted from outside. She stood outside her car, holding the door ajar and beckoning for them to come down.

When all four girls were inside there was a constant chatter that filled the car, and Marceline nodded her head enthusiastically at each story recited and she grinned whenever it got funny. They were nearly at the mall when Monique commented on Brianna's disheveled appearance.

"Oh it's nothing." Brianna replied, tugging at the end of her shirt and combing a hand through her hair.

"Seriously, it looks like you just got knocked up by a bear." Asher laughed.

"Something like that." Brianna muttered under her breath then adding "So what coffee do you guys want?"

☾

"New Caledonia is so far away." Brianna sighed. All four of them held mostly empty paper cups and were now aimlessly walking around and making faces at the high prices on windows.

"Oh god please don't turn into another one of Asher. We dealt with that for the past four hours." Monique groaned, "We're also supposed to be making good use of the time I'm still here, asshats. So let's get ice-cream."

She discarded her cup into the nearest bin and linked her arm into Monique and Asher's, Brianna following suite. Once at the ice-cream parlour they went up to the counter to choose their flavours.

"Damn this guy sure does get around." Brianna muttered distastefully. Michael's head poked round the corner and his contagious grin made an appearance on his face at the sight of Marceline, his hand slipped his phone into his pocket and fiddled with his apron.

"You didn't tell me you were at work!" Marceline whispered to him.

The two of them had gotten closer over the past few weeks, bonding over dumb sitcoms and the fact that Michael's mum never seemed to be home so they could raid the cupboards. Michael appeared the opposite of Calum, his creamy skin suggested his lack of interest for physical activity and he had showed her his computer set up with enthusiasm, even letting her play a few of his games (but later politely getting her to stop because she was terrible).

"Didn't think it mattered." Michael shrugged, "So what flavours would you guys like?"

"How much is a one-scoop?" Marceline said to him quietly.

"Uh, three-fifty."

"Ok I'll just get a junior then."

"A junior is a one-scoop, idiot."

Michael was an asshole to Marcaline sometimes, but it was a refreshing contrast to the baby-ing she got from everyone else. She also found it funny to see the faces of the rest of her friends as they watched the two of them banter quietly.

Brianna cleared her throat.

"Anyway," Michael said a little louder to end their conversation, Marceline giggling softly across from him. "Do you guys want anything or is it just gonna be this one and her weird ass fruit flavours." he gestured to Marceline as she rolled her eyes.

They all recited their orders and Michael managed to drop the scoop into the tubs twice in his excitement to show the girls he could accomplish something.

"Swear he'd be fired long ago if that girl didn't have such a crush on him." Monique said, pointedly staring at a brunette girl wiping down tables and occasionally looking back at Michael.

"Hey Stace, can I use my break now?" Michael called out to the girl once he was done. She turned and blushed, nodding her head quickly. He slipped onto the other side of the counter and chased after them as they sat at a table outside.

"You do know she has, like, a giant crush on you right?" Monique repeated to him as he sat down next to Marcaline. None of Marceline's friends took a particular liking to Michael, but accepted him as someone who made Marceline happy.

Michael initially looked surprised at the comment but brushed it off with "Well who wouldn't be able to resist this?"

Marceline slapped him on the arm.

"Boys are so dumb." Asher said as Michael pouted and rubbed his arm in pain.

☾

exams are poop emoji and so was that ending

ps Calum will be in the next chapter dw i gotchu i miss him too