( @palmviewstarters )

( @palmviewstarters )

camden doesn’t get out much. for a thirty year old, his social life is far from booming. though it’s not something he entirely minds. it isn’t like he ever really had one in the first place, and truthfully he would much rather be spending time with his son that at a party. but it’s one of his oldest friends birthday celebrations, so here he is anyway, slightly tipsy and with his mind elsewhere.

he’s wandered outside for some air, leaning against the metal railing with a cigarette between his lips. it’s a bad habit and he knows it — that’s why he’s quit at least six or seven times. but sometimes he simply needs one, and the rare flush of alcohol in his system isn’t helping. turns his head when he hears someone approach, half-smile capturing his lips as he exhaled a puff of smoke. “ i’m not supposed to be smoking, ” he states, slight chuckles as he brings his finger to his lips as if to ask them to keep it a secret. “ you having a good night ? ”

DETENTION | 2011 | dir. joseph kahn

kyro: hey you :)

kyro: and your first thought was your low-grade comedian friend ? i’m so flattered

kyro: i could be very tempted to take it off your hands if it means in-person delivery

sms 📩 kyro lee ( @dreamerfms )

celeste: hey :p celeste: i got a pr package and they added some mens stuff in here celeste: what are the chances you wanna take it off my hands??

“ sometimes the asshole is good to have on side. this one comes with a sister who is real big on slashing tires, ” he teases, smirk etching into the corner of his mouth. but the smirk fades quickly, is replaced with something softer. a side of him not many people ever get to catch a glimpse of. words provoke a wave of empathy. “ no,” kai shakes his head, swoops away the curls that caress his forehead, “ it’s not cheating. everyone handles it in their own way, not talking about it much doesn't make it any less a part of who you are. " kai had gotten to a place of being fully comfortable with it, but still he wasn't shouting it from the rooftops. he lived his life, and if it came up, he'd say with no hesitation. " oh, " kai soon lets out a quiet huff of air, hands tightening around metal ever so slightly. stirs up a memory he wishes he could forget. so long ago now it makes him feel pathetic that it still creates an ache in his chest. " was she a friend or . . . a friend friend ? " hopes the glance he gives her way lets her know what he means. and after a beat he asks, " why'd you go ghost mode on her ? "

she leans in and lightly smacks his arm as he makes his joke. it's not at all out of character for kai, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't have similar feelings in her lowest and darkest moments. where kai had writing and music, winnie had flowers. different outlets, but definitely bright spots in their lives. friends, though, didn't seem to come easy to either of them. which is why it was so funny they almost never interacted during the day time. she looks down at her hands as he speaks kind words. "well, great. i would be stuck with the ASSHOLE," she jokes, playing with the ring on her thumb finger. "only a couple of years... but i don't really talk about it... is that cheating?" there were people who were loud and proud about who they were-- she'd seem them online, had met them in person... she just didn't feel like she could do that. at least not yet.

"i had this friend back in college... she was so proud of who she was... proud of who i was, even back then... and who is proud of themselves at nineteen?" winnie certainly wasn't, but she was harboring a lot of secrets back then. "we fell out. well..." she sighs. "i kind of ghosted her... okay, not kind of. I GHOSTED HER."

" well, then it's a good thing i never broke anything, isn't it ? " he retorts, though he can see where she's coming from in a sense. if anyone was to break any of his instruments, he'd most likely lose his shit. while he wasn't actually attempting to break her belongings, he simply enjoyed seeing how worked up she got. why ? he isn't sure. " probably not, " kai sinks back into his seat, shrugs casually. but a smirk threatens to push against the side of his mouth. his brow soon raises at her statement. " well who's gonna do them when you burnout ? " the male chuckles, shakes his head. " no, it's not the only way. " there was music, writing, reading. he enjoyed a lot of things, mostly on the creative spectrum. but sometimes even that came with negativities. " but it's the quickest way. probably the most fun, too. have you ever tried it ? " a moment of pause, and he's leaning forwards again, gaze catching hers. " do you want to ? "

laila knew that kai had to of been just wanting to mess with her. whether he considered doing so fun or not ... she really didn't think that it was at all. maybe this was her being too serious. usually, she knew how to have fun with things. she ended up giving him a look; taking a beat before speaking. "yes, please do. the last thing i need is for them to be ruined. you do know how much they cost to replace one, right? as the saying goes... you break it. you buy it. seems fair enough to me. " a raise of her eyebrow soon followed right at his comment. " do i even want to know where you were going with that joke, or? "when it came to her trying to take the edge of, it depended. most of the time it took her a while until she was able to just relax. " i don't, usually. i've got a lot to do. and who else is going to do it all besides for me. " watching the mimicking move he made with his fingers evidently showed her what he was talking about. "so, you just smoke? that's the only way that you know how to relax? "

maude apatow via instagram