SHUT ME UP | mona

[caleb]

This was just like every other night. Here Caleb was, making rounds between groups of the usual people at yet another party. He loved that Maple Hollow had such a great party scene, even if it consisted of the same faces every time. Sometimes Caleb just wanted something new, but he found that the more he drank, the blurrier they became, which made things a lot easier for him. Not that he ever needed an excuse to drink. He had too many of those as it was. With a bottle of vodka in his hand and a Marlboro in his mouth, Caleb was trying to socialize with everyone that he possibly could. This was seriously the same as always. Even the conversations seemed painfully familiar, and if it weren't for the fact that there was free booze and nowhere better to go, Caleb would totally have given up on this a long time ago. But there was nothing better to do on a Friday night than be here, so here he stayed.

Caleb had been doing this for years, and the only things that changed often were the music and the location of the party, since keeping these at the same place would just be a hazard where police were concerned. Caleb had been arrested a few times for underage drinking, but he continued to do it. It wasn't like there were any more consequences they could make him deal with than they'd already given him. His parents had to bail him out several times, and he didn't even get a lecture from them. There was just a stern "don't do it again" after each one. Mom and dad didn't seem to care much. Hell, Caleb probably got all of his drinking from them. Well, his mother at least. He didn't think he'd ever seen her without a drink in her hand, and that was fine by him. Because he was the exact same way. It was funny how that sort of thing worked. History repeated itself in weird ways. And as long as he didn't end up as a tired old househusband, he'd be more than fine with it.

Some terrible pop song was blaring over expensive speakers, and it was all Caleb could do just to keep himself from walking over turning the whole thing off. He knew there would be backlash. He'd tried that one before. He figured that as long as others were enjoying that sort of thing, then he'd let them. God he was moody tonight. But that's why god made vodka: to settle moods down and make everything seem more wonderful. Or a hell of a lot worse, depending on the night. But Caleb wasn't in a mood to fight tonight, so drinking would only make him easier to get along with. He knew himself well, and he knew how he'd usually react to intoxication. Even if he didn't always seem like he did. It was something that he took pride in. He knew himself very well, and tended to use that to his advantage whenever he could. Tonight was no exception. He'd get pleasantly wasted and find whatever excitement he could at this party. He was determined to make it a good night. And when he put his mind to something, it became an inevitability.

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[MONA FAITH LANDRY]

Mona wanted to separate herself from her brothers. It was her first thought as she shrugged off her jacket and licked her lips, trying to remember the last time she'd been to a party since her mother had passed. Maybe it wasn't the best place for her thought process to go, but she couldn't help it. Her siblings continued on doing what they did after the inevitable happened -- a saline drip and two-ply tissues -- and so she went along. But she didn't want to keep it this way, just being her older brothers' little sister. Next year she'd been in the tenth grade, and she wanted to reclaim her independence. It was almost laughable, though, considering how she used to be. Before shit hit the fan, she had been on the path to becoming a respectable young woman. Now she had become the girl that parents told their kids to stay away from. She was okay with that. At least she was something then, at least she mattered in some way. Because she really wanted just that -- attention. Even if it was the bad kind.

She quickly separated from her siblings and went off to do her own thing, which meant bumming a cigarette off a stranger and trying Jäger for the first time. She was moving on from being the ingenue quickly, the untouched snow or doe-eyed child. That was something else she liked about spending time with upperclassman, at these parties. She could grow up, instead of being the girl who wanted to grow up but was stifled by the influence of the family around her. Being responsible all the time sucked, and she was slowly giving up on that. Sometimes, though, she knew she didn't want to. Being around Adam reminded her of who she used to be and the fact that she didn't want to change because what if he didn't like her then? He was the only real friend she had left, the only one she felt like cared, as hopeless as that sounded. But it felt true.

After a while, though, she knew she was past her limit. It didn't take long, she couldn't remember how many sips of booze, how much time had elapsed before she felt the good hazy feeling that had become a good friend over the past year. Unfortunately, her brothers were nowhere to be found. This irritated her, of course, and she was to the point that most anything would be annoying her, including the bass of the music thrumming through her bones. It wasn't until she caught sight of a cute looking guy that she stopped. The girl felt confident in her tight jeans, her blue blouse, and now she had a new aim. "Hey," she said to him, approaching. "Don't suppose you've seen a blond guy looking pissed at the world? Or a brunette looking just as pissed, just taller." She frowned. "You know what, neither are very good descriptions. I'm Mona." The introduction seemed to roll into her other words, and she held out a hand with a lazy smile.

[caleb]

Caleb was getting tempted to leave. This scene was dead. It was getting to the point where he was wondering if there was a point to the whole party life that he'd grown so accustomed to. It'd been a few years, and he didn't know if he could keep it up. Things got old. The same old people, and the same old drama. There were people getting white girl drunk and hooking up with their best friends, or with their exes. There were people sitting around discussing whatever track was currently booming from the speakers. It was just so tired. The only thing that could liven this kind of thing up was a good fight or a good fuck, and either one of those would be so typical and so cliche. Even so, sometimes cliche was good sometimes. If it meant that kind of rush, at least. He was definitely the kind of guy who would kill for any kind of adrenaline.

And like a beacon of hope, a girl appeared seemingly out of nowhere and spoke to him. This one was new. Or at least, he'd never noticed her. And someone as attractive as her wouldn't go unnoticed by someone as shallow as Caleb. He smirked. He'd seen a lot of pissed blondes and brunettes over the night, and he wasn't sure exactly which one he should have been pointing out. It didn't seem to matter though, because that question didn't seem very important after a moment. She was moving on to introductions, which Caleb was happy to reciprocate. At least he had someone new to talk to. And if he turned on the charm, he'd definitely get some action tonight. Some people would call him over confident, but those people didn't seem to understand that he didn't strike out very often. He took the girl's hand and shook it. "It's nice to meet you, Mona. I'm Caleb." Hopefully his reputation didn't precede him. He'd hate to look like a manwhore or a criminal right off the bat. That was usually something that he liked to introduce later. Usually while he was getting dressed the next morning.

None of that mattered though, as long as she stayed with him. Because otherwise, he didn't know where he'd go. Last time he left a party early, he found himself drinking alone in a park, and a teacher found him. He couldn't risk that happening again. Mr. Mizushima was cool, but other people weren't, and that wasn't a chance he was willing to take. Not just yet, at least. Not until he'd eliminated all other option. "So I haven't seen you around before. New to the scene?" he asked, taking a swig of the vodka bottle that remained clasped in his hand. Fresh faces were great. And as long as they didn't overdose or call the cops, they were more than welcome in Caleb's life. He loved having new people around. Especially when they were this attractive. This night was certainly looking up.

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[MONA FAITH LANDRY]

So this guy was Caleb. Did she even care about names at this point? It could be questioned whether she cared about anything at all, considering that she had become quite the skilled nihilist in recent times. Nothing mattered in the end, you did shit and you died and that's what the world has been teaching her. It took the death of the most important person in her life to teach her this, but now she could look at this cute boy and think that it didn't matter who he was or who she was because they were skin and bones and a moment on earth. It sucked. Drinking helped her forget that, the plain reality of everything she had been faced with. She could just look at him and get jostled around by people around her and think that at least she wasn't dead yet. Might as well get fucked up in the mean time.

Even still, she had no idea who this guy was, or where he came from, he was just another person at a party who probably attended the Academy. The Thunder girl didn't make it a habit to meet and greet everyone around. She preferred to keep quiet in her shell and just mind her own business. The only time she ever really came out and did anything was when she went to places like this, drank her weight in alcohol she'd never even tried before, and ended up with someone, somewhere she didn't recognize. Some nights were less eventful than others, some nights she just wandered around with "friends" and did absolutely nothing. But somehow it seemed fun when boozed up. Everything seemed fun that way. And though she had yet to try it, altered states of mind sounded fun as hell, too. She crossed her arms, swaying a little bit. "Actually, yeah," she said, watching as Caleb took a drink from whatever it was he had. "I'm looking for my brothers because I had a little too much of...uhm...it's something German, I don't know." It was obvious just how knew she was to the scene. And also just how drunk she was.

But she thought her situation over. Yeah, she was drunk. But how much would it hurt to get a little bit drunker? Her brothers weren't around, and she didn't trust many other people to take care of her. At least she had that much common sense. She didn't trust people anyway, especially not burn-outs partying it up in Dude Anonymous's house. "Did you come with your friends or do you think you could stick around, because I need to find my way around here." Insanely drunk, yes, and she proved it when she stumbled forward and took his hand, pulling him with her to the kitchen without even waiting for a response. "I need something to sober me up or whatever," she said, letting go of his hand and waving her own around. Even in this state, she was still bossy and demanding and large and in charge. No matter what happened, she would always remain that way. If only she could keep some of her better qualities.

[caleb]

The fact that Caleb knew everyone in this scene certainly showed how boring it all was getting. But the newbie would certainly keep him occupied for the time being. He'd be sure of that. It was even better that she was drunk. Drunk girls were his favorite kind of girls. Because they were always able to be manipulated just the way that he wanted. "Oh honey, never tell a stranger you've had too much to drink. They'll take advantage of you," he advised with fake sincerity. It was actually a really good lesson, except it made it sound like was different. In all seriousness though, he wasn't. He was as amoral as it got. It never even occurred to him that this might even make him a bad person. All he cared about was getting laid and having a good time. That was all he cared about every night, after all.

Caleb smirked at the girl as she asked if he'd stay with her. "I'd be glad to stick with you. Don't worry." He never came here with anyone. That complicated things a little too much. He loved to bounce around between a lot of different people and having a friend around would ruin that. Unless he found someone that was enough like him to keep up, but that was a rare occurrence. So his options were to stay with this girl and see where he got, or to go back to the dorms. This party was dead. And there was no way that he was ready to head back to school just yet. The night wasn't completely a bust as of right now, after all. He still had the option of Mona in front of him. An option that he wasn't just going to pass over this easily.

It was a little surprising that she was grabbing his hand and dragging him somewhere, but not out of the ordinary. Though girls usually pulled him upstairs when they did want to lead him somewhere. Not the kitchen. She wanted to sober up, and he knew that he couldn't outright refuse to help her without seeming like scum, but he couldn't just let her go and do something like that. Parties were for drinking and having a good time, after all. "You're at a party though. What's the point of sobriety?" he asked lightly. The fact that his words were this coherent meant that he probably wasn't nearly drunk enough, and as if on cue, he took a few large gulps of his vodka. "Want some? It's good, I promise," he offered, holding it out to her with a grin. He liked to think that he had a face that was hard to refuse, and he hoped that he was right in this case.

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[MONA FAITH LANDRY]

Mother warned her about the boys and girls. She warned Mona about the people who she shouldn't be hanging out with, the people who are going nowhere in life and the people who she would be judged for hanging around. But she was dead now, wasn't she, and the Thunder girl could rebel now without the guilt. Even her mother's memory, the fact she wouldn't approve of anything she did, was fading. She just didn't care anymore, and that would save her from the damning thoughts and experiences and the question of whether this guy was one of those people he warned her against. Was it taking advantage when she lacked a damn? It would be interesting to find out. She rolled her eyes up. "I can't be taken advantage of," she replied smartly. Isn't that what everyone said? That they were too smart, too strong, too better than everyone else. "So is that you're warning, are you going to take advantage of me, Caleb?" It was a challenge, his name rolling off her tongue scathingly. She didn't look angry, she wasn't, she just wanted to prove a point. The point that even drunk she was in control, which was obviously a lie.

Though she usually had confidence, even Mona could admit to herself that she wasn't very good company. Of course she wasn't. She talked very little and was sarcastic half the time, even when she joked. Pleasant personality? The heck was that? Before, when she was younger, it could be said that she had that personality. She was just a playful person, even though she usually stuck around with her family. Didn't talk much, but liked to have fun. She was something of a mystery, but above all she was always there for the people she cared about. And now she was away from them, testing the waters again like someone swimming for the first time. She may have been new to the scene, but she wasn't a scared little girl. "You're in for the time of your life," she said with her usual dryness, but it was lost in that there was humor in her expression, the way that her lip curved up, her light blue eyes. "I mean, I'm much better than all these shitheads." They were dull and it was beginning to bore her, which was one of the other reasons she wanted to find her brothers. Not that they'd want to see her, and would probably give her a hard time. And she would pull the immature card and say that they were responsible for her and if she didn't come home safe, Pearl would chew them out.

This time she resisted rolling her eyes at Caleb. It was one of her favorite expressions, though, aptly showed her exasperation. The blond started going through drawers as if she could find what she was looking for in there. His voice drifted through her foggy haze, and in a moment she remembered what they were talking about. "The point of sobriety is so I don't have to hear shit from my sister when I get home. And so you know, people don't take advantage of me." She was one of the more well-behaved of the siblings, needless to say. And the last words were to callback what he had informed her before, the fact that she would be an easy target. Hell, she didn't even need to tell anyone. It was fairly obvious that she was shitfaced. She stopped with her fussing in the drawers and blinked at what he'd offered her. The list of alcohol she'd tried was long enough to include beer, rum, and now Jäger. Despite every lesson she learned having been about not accepting drinks from strangers, she took his cup and gave a cursory sniff. She drew back, wincing. Why did every alcohol smell like sick? Taking a dive, she took a gulp and winced, brushing her mouth with the back of her hand. "Shit," she said as it burned her mouth. She held out the cup for him to take back. "The fuck is that? And why does alcohol have to taste like rusty nails?" She she shook her head. It had to get better than that.

[caleb]

This girl wasn't taking the only advice he'd give her, and that was good to hear. Because that meant that Caleb would get his night the way he wanted. But it was naive of the girl to think that she was impervious to being taken advantage of. Who did she think she was? Or where did she think she was? She was alone and drunk in a lion's den. Not that Caleb would bring it up again. He was smarter than that. Or he liked to think that he was. And then came a startling question. Would he take advantage of her? Of course. Would he admit it? There was no way in hell that he would. At least, not really. Not directly. "Only if you want me to, sweetheart," Caleb responded smoothly. This is why he liked the party scene, comments like that were wasted on the sober.

Apparently, he was in for the time of his life. That was promising. He didn't want to waste his time on something that wasn't going to be filled with excitement. Of course, Caleb had his doubts. Everyone always thought that they were incredible, and most were just mediocre at best. It was a shame, but most people were just delusional. Caleb could have been among them for all he knew, but people seemed to think that he was pretty incredible. God, he hoped that he wasn't boring. If he was, there was no point to his existence. "You're gonna have to prove that one to me," he replied to the girl, leaning against the kitchen counter and taking the last drag of his cigarette. He'd gone right down to the filter, which there really wasn't a point to except that other smokers criticized him for not doing it when he didn't. The taste got worse near the filter, and it started to burn the lips. It was just silly. But he was tired of smoker kids telling him that he was wasting cigarettes when he didn't do it. So he made the sacrifice. It was easier to be accepted by his people than to take fewer drags of his cigarette, after all.

He couldn't let her get sober for his sake. He'd already agreed to stick around her. If she was sober it would ruin both his night and his reputation. Both of those things were too important to Caleb to give up, and he'd make a stand as subtly as possible. "Maybe you just shouldn't go home tonight then. Wait till morning, that way you can enjoy tonight." Hopefully that would work. He didn't know what else he could do, because he didn't want to scare this one off. She was new, and that was a novelty in this scene. He had to have her. Caleb wrapped his fingers around the neck of his bottle again and brought it to his lips, taking another sip. "You get used to it," he replied nonchalantly. He didn't know what else he could say. He actually liked the taste of things like beer, but he hated hard liquor's taste. But then again, why would anyone drink that for the taste?

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[MONA FAITH LANDRY]

If there was one thing the Thunder girl was good at, it was having an answer for everything. a clever retort, a smart rebuttal. Even if she was wrong in an argument of some sort, she would always come back with a reply for who she was speaking to. Caleb, for instance. This wasn't an argument, though. It was a conversation that should have been red lights and blaring sirens. "Then you wouldn't be taking advantage, now would you?" It was a surprising thing she could even think now, that she could speak without stuttering on one word as her brain tried to form it coherently. Eventually, she would become a pro. Maybe this year, or the next, eventually she would be get used it it, right? The heavy head and the time it took to actually organize her thoughts into a retort that made sense. It would come easily.

Ego was something she had in spades. Not as much as she had once been, but certainly enough that it was noticeable, that she could say and do things and think she was the best at them. She strove to be the best at them, after all. She took the moment to hook her fingers in his belt loop and give a little tug, but that was all she did before she ushered him into the kitchen and he told her that maybe she didn't need to sober up. She pulled herself up onto the counter and rolled her head up to the ceiling. Thinking. And he had a point. Why should she go home to her sister and listen to her bitch and moan about whatever she thought she had been doing? Why not just stay here, where it was relatively safe. Safe from her family, that is. Caleb could be proof that it was certainly not safe at all. "Yeah..." she tilted her head back down. "Yeah, you know, why not? I don't have to go home, I mean I'll just get shit when I go back home, huh. I'm fine here." This was becoming her element, her way of life, the place she would exist and transform and become. She would be like the other burnouts and the wasted teenagers who had this kind of funy every weekend.

She gave him a pointed look before looking away. Everything was bright right then, too bright. It illuminated the frizz of her hair and the motes in the air and all these little details that took a while to even understand. "It's bright," she stated simply, matter-of-factly. Mona jumped down from the counter, approached him, lifting her hands up to his waist. She smiled wickedly at him. "Do you know somewhere we can go that's dark?" Her tone had definitely shifted from before. She'd made her decision, she would be staying here the night. And she would deal with her family together, because there was nothing they could give her that she hadn't already heard before. They always had the same things in their arsenal.

[caleb]

This was working out splendidly. It wasn't even his a-game right now, and the girl was laying right into his hand. That was perfect. bottom line, Caleb was almost positive he was going to get laid tonight. All he had to do was play the next few minutes right, and he was golden. Caleb leaned in before speaking to her, leaving about an inch of space between her lips and his own. All she had to do was take the bait as he whispered with his 120-proof breath. "Then you tell me. Am I going to take advantage of you?" he asked with a devilish grin. Had Caleb thought about this more, it would have been clear that a sentence like that had all the makings of a conviction as a sex offender. But his intentions weren't as creepy as they sounded, and he was sure that Mona was too drunk to care. He hoped that Mona was too drunk to care. She seemed to be under the table in that regard, and that was all the more in his favor. He couldn't have planned this all better if he tried.

Mona saw his reasoning that she shouldn't go home tonight, which meant that she was pretty much agreeing to sleep with him. Unless she was naive enough to think that he was really offering her a place to crash and nothing else, but no one was that dumb. At least, no one that Caleb wanted to know. She was fine here, and that said a lot. He eyed her up and down again as she spoke. "Good choice. It'll all be easier to deal with tomorrow." That was such a lie. Being yelled at drunk was sure as hell a lot easier than being yelled at hungover. But he didn't care about what she did tomorrow. It wasn't like he expected to ever see her again, after all. She was new to the scene, and that meant that there was a big chance that she'd change her mind and never come back. That was the beauty of one night stands: there wasn't any substance to them. They were god's gift to man, and anyone who said otherwise didn't truly know how to live, by Caleb's standards.

And then came the words that he was longing to hear. The girl wanted dark, and he knew just where to take her. As the girl held his waist, he took the opportunity to push some of the girl's golden hair softly back behind her ear. "I think a bedroom would be the darkest, most private place. Don't you?" he asked, returning her wicked grin. It was clear that they both wanted this. It was just a matter of getting upstairs now. Then the real fun could start.

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