-- HEADBOARD SWAG [Rowena]

[ADAM EVAN RIZZO]

Tonight was just as good a night to go out and party as any--his mother had experienced yet another break down only a few hours before and he had to escape as soon as she calmed down. Money was not coming easy and Molly was struggling. Asher did what he could, but the shop was in shambles since a lot of kinks were not sorted out before Greg's passing. First the tears came because he was no longer with them, and then they came because the man's support was what helped keep them afloat. Would they have to resort moving to an apartment now? What about the shop? He didn't know. Adam shook his head to try and clear his mind and inhaled the cool October air as he walked down the street. Cars whooshed by on occasion but aside from that it was quiet. Too quiet, and his mind would not silence itself no matter how hard he tried to ignore the doubts and questions. Seeing Molly in such a state shook him up more than he anticipated.

The cars outside were indicative of the party at the house, some people lingering outside and talking with friends as Adam passed by them. Drinks. Was the only word he focused on as he went straight to the kitchen and found himself a beer, knowing full well that anything stronger would set him on his ass for the rest of the night. He wanted to feel the worries wash away instead. He popped the can and relished in the 'tsssst' sound as it released the pressure, taking a swig. It was bitter but he knew that the side effects were worth it.

After making it through half of his second beer he decided to wander away from the girls dancing in the kitchen and towards the living room to see if he knew anyone.

And he did.

That chick he talked with in detention was sitting there chatting with some guy he didn't know, making what looked like an attempt at being funny as he laughed over something he said. Feeling like he lost some sort of spotlight that he never had, Adam made his way over and sat down next to Rowena, wiggling the beer between his thumb and forefinger. "What's up beautiful?" He asked sweetly, acting like the other guy didn't even exist. There were a few attempts over the past several months to try and talk to her in the hallways but she didn't seem interested, which was irritating at best. Now she didn't have much of an excuse. He hoped. "I'm gonna make a guess that you came here all by yourself." His dark eyes flitted over to the guy now, flashing a smirk. "If you're looking for any action tonight you might wanna pass up on this guy. I'm sure you could find way better." Did he care that he interrupted and insulted a stranger? Not really. It was a good way to escape the events at home with Molly at the very least, and to flirt with Rowena again, even if she probably wouldn't show any interest.

[ROWENA AUDREY BENNETT]

Parties were bad for her. She'd been telling herself since last year that she needed to quit the scene and yet here she was, another night, another party. A haze of cigarette smoke hung in the air around her as her her conversation partner blew rings into the air, showing off. Not bothering to ask, she took the cigarette between her fingers and inhaled deeply. "Bet I can top you." The words were both a challenge and an innuendo as she leaned in close, blowing a ring toward his face. His family came from a lot of money. If she was going to give in to anyone at this party, why not someone that could afford to give her the cab fare home in the morning? He was cute, too, not quite hot but pretty. The face of a model, she thought. She liked that.

He was in the middle of cracking a joke and laughing at himself, Ro playing along to win him over, when someone else sat down uninvited on her opposite side. Pretty boy, whose name she didn't yet know, looked quite offended by the intrusion and was quick to vacate his seat after an insult was tossed his way. "Didn't know you were expecting company," she heard him mutter as he brushed past her. "No, wait—" She stopped herself, giving it up for a lost cause when he did not turn to face her. She'd been so close!

Rounding on Adam, she fixed him with a cold blue glare. Static crackled in the air, a purposeful warning of her ire. "I wasn't by myself, as I'm sure you were aware." Who did this little brat think he was, anyway? He'd tried his hand at conversation in the halls of the Academy a couple of times but she'd blown him off, not interested in talking to most of the high schoolers. She was bitter that most of them would graduate on time when she'd been held back three years due to incompetence. School made her feel stupid, the kids who actually survived it made her feel worse. "I was this close to a good lay and you had to stick your grubby nose in and muck it all up!" She hated people like him, always pushing their way into her business.

[ADAM EVAN RIZZO]

There was a glint of satisfaction as the guy walked away, muttering something Adam could hardly hear over the noise of the room. Not that it mattered; the response was exactly what he wanted. Rowena, on the other hand, was not quite so thrilled and he could feel the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He fought a shudder. "I never said you were by yourself," The boy clarified, smug as can be. "I said you must have come here by yourself." If she were here with someone there was no way she would've been making goo-goo eyes at the random guy who just stalked away from her. Well, unless he did come with her, but that was thinking too much into it.

He laughed. "How could you tell just by talking to him that he was gonna be a good fuck? Nice hair doesn't equal sex god, just so you know." Or maybe that was true, and quickly Adam looked up and toyed with his hair thoughtfully. Hm. He had only had sex once and there was not much to go off of, so for all he knew he was awful at the whole thing. "But hey, I'm always free." He wiggled his eyebrows and gave a wink. Rowena wouldn't go for that, she had said so before, but he was not particularly bothered. It was all in fun. His smile was unwavering and confident throughout the whole thing.

There was a brief silence where he finished off the beer and set the bottle down on the coffee table, staring at it. Should he get another? Maybe. Molly was still heavy on his mind and this conversation was only working so much magic. Thinking on it he frowned before shaking his head and glancing at Rowena again, offering the smile again. "You should play a drinking game with me. I mean, it's not like you have a good lay to get to or anything." His eyes glinted, looking proud but mischievous at the same time. If she didn't want to stick around, fine by him. He knew better than anyone that his approach with other people was not exactly conventional.