The Valedictorian // Attire // Location: The Boudreaux-Hansen Home // #2a5d9c
Seven years. Seven god damn years. Casey didn't know what was worse, the fact that she'd be seeing some of the people that she hadn't seen in seven years for the first time, or that it had been seven years already. She couldn't decide which was worse, how that much time had gone by, or that it felt like no time at all. But here she was, standing in front of the sit-down mirror in her small apartment as she finished applying the last bit of her makeup. Casey was never one who went all out with her looks, especially in terms of makeup, so she went with as minimalistic, and as easy as she could manage. She haphazardly tied her hair up into a messy ponytail and called it a day. She wasn't exactly one for presentation now a days, which was one thing that changed drastically in the seven years since she had left Bluffton. She used to dress cleaner, neater. More feminine. Stereotypical. Everything her faith based parents wanted. But, as she left that house, and their rules, stepping out of her shell and safety net. Casey was now more comfortable in the way she presented herself. Loafers and combat boots for shoes. Tight jeans or slightly baggy dress pants, with a blazer and long sleeve shirt underneath. If only her mother saw her today. Mid-calf boots, dress pants, a black loose dress shirt, and an overcoat. Guinnevere would have a stroke, and maybe...Casey wouldn't mind paying to see it, how morbid of a thought it may have been. She shook her head of those thoughts. She wasn't here to spite her parents or anyone else. She was here for a friend who just got out of hospital not even a few days ago.
Casey remembered when she was in the middle of her last class of the day when her supervisor came into her classroom and pulled her aside, bringing her the news about Ben. She took immediate leave, booked the first flight she could get and was going back to the United States. Back to Bluffton. Back to her friends. Back to Je-Casey found herself blinking steadily as she snapped herself back to reality. She wasn't here for that. Least it's what she kept telling herself. In all reality, Casey didn't know what she was here for in all honesty. But, all she had to focus on was Ben and this damned party that his family was throwing. Of course they'd use a terrible excuse of their son's attempted suicide as an excuse to flash their wealth. Anything to draw the simplest attention. It only reminded her of Casey's own parents. If she had attempted the same thing..."Oh fuck me..." she muttered under her breath with a small groan, rubbing her temples as she rested her elbows on the dresser in front of her. A small whimper came from down beside her on the floor. Glancing off to the side, Casey's eyes landed on the midsized dog who wandered over to her, resting his head on her lap, "It's okay, buddy. I'm fine. Go back to your nap, bub." Casey mused as she placed a gentle kiss to the pitbull's forehead. His dark eyes trailed on her's for a moment before his tail waged happily and he strut back over to his bed on the floor in the corner with a content sigh escaping his lips. A small grin formed on her face for just a moment as she looked down at her phone, she still had thirty minutes until she'd be 'fashionably' late to this party. But, she knew Erin would kill her if she showed up late to this thing. As if her cousin wasn't going to give her enough grief as is. Casey knew the moment she showed up, Erin would grill her ass, about everything and Casey didn't know what she feared more. Having to see Jenna again like this, or having Erin being at this damned party as the hired on bartender. Who, if Casey would guess correctly, would spill all sorts of shit on everyone. It was just the way she was, and Casey knew she'd never change. Even when they were all in school, Erin happily called everyone out on their shit, and then some. That much never changed.
A resounding sigh escaped the blonde's lips as she slowly pushed herself to her feet, grabbing her sunglasses as she did so. Looking in the mirror once more, adjusting her hair once more as she tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. Making sure she had everything, phone in her back pocket, packet of cigarettes and lighter in the interior pocket of her overcoat and some mints and gum in the other pocket on the other side. Just fucking kill me, Casey thought to herself as she opened the front door of her apartment and stepped outdoors, closing the door behind her as she made her way to the taxi that would take her to the The Boudreaux's home. To this god damn party.
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The car-ride wasn't as long as she had initially thought it was going to be, or hell, even as long as she had hoped. But here she was. On her way to confront all of her ghosts from her past. Hell, she didn't plan for life to go this way until now. Especially now. But here she was. Alone. Going to a party where most likely everyone would be better off than she was. Something she had been fearing. But, Casey knew she'd have to put on a brave face for the night, and it's exactly what she was going to do. She felt the car slow and then finally come to a stop. Almost immediately feeling her stomach plummet as a lump formed in her throat, and a pit slowly forming in her stomach. "Alright, miss! Your destination has arrived!" the cabby called. Snapping Casey out of her hazed stupor. "Oh shit, right. Thank you!" she stammered, as she handed the man the money and opened the door of the cab. Stepping out into the fresh air, Casey took a deep breath as she looked around at the house. Yup, this was indeed a party. Good to know they never changed either. Casey rolled her eyes at the thought before she waved the cab off, and made her way to the frontdoor of the lavish house. Without knocking she pushed the door open and stepped in. Immediately being greeted by dozens of faces she didn't exactly recognize, but some she did. Giving small awkward nods and waves, small hellos as she weaved through the crowds until she found herself stumbling into the bar counter. "You alright there cut-Holy shit, Casey!?" an all too familiar voice shouted in surprise. Casey awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck as she locked eyes with none other than her own cousin, Erin, who was in the middle of filling up someone's glass. "Yup, that's me." she said awkwardly, flashing Erin a small smile. "Oh don't give me that shit, and get over here instead you dumbass!" she exclaimed as she ran from behind the bar and practically tackled Casey into a bear-hug. Which almost took the other girl off her feet, and onto her ass. But thankfully Casey had been anticipating it and managed to hold herself grounded enough. "Hey 'Rin" she greeted cheekily as she returned the tight embrace.
"You look fuckin' hot! Like, holy shit. I know we're related but like...Shit, dude." Erin gave her a small wink before she returned back to the bar. "Why are you like this?" Casey groaned mockingly as she took one of the seats on a stool at the bar counter. "Like what? Unashamedly myself? I thought you said to go out and be brave, Cas? Or...Was that not it?" she mocked. Casey feigned an overdramatic shocked expression, "Wow, using my own words against me, huh? I get it was stupid, but jesus christ. Gimme a break, alright?" Erin chuckled as she began pouring a drink she knew Casey would have wanted without even asking, "Oh please. If I was bustin' your balls you'd know. Speaking of which-" she started, before sliding the glass over to Casey, who took a sip and immediately regretted it once the next few words left Erin's mouth, "Where's your girlfriend anyway?" Casey found herself choking on the alcohol as it hit her tongue. "Holy fuck, Erin. Really?" she sputtered. Coughing as she tried to regain her composure. "Oh right...Yeah, you kinda fucked yourself on that end, didn't you?" the platinum blonde remarked. "Can we not already, Erin? I'm here for Ben, that's it. So, drop it." Casey retorted.
Erin shot her a small look that Casey knew all too well. The partially raised right eyebrow that had a small slit in it near the arch of her brow. The partially clenched jaw, the slightly squinted eyes. "You left nearly four years ago, with next to no word. You left your girl, for a job." Erin started, "But not only that, you left her to deal with that whole shit-show by herself. Do you even know how miserable she was after that? Cuz, I do. Because I was there for her, Cas. Kinda like you were supposed to be. But no. I had to clean up my own damn baby cousin's bullshit, like always." Casey remained silent, as the small vein in her forehead twitched, her eyebrows furrowed together as her jaw clenched tightly in place. Simply giving Erin the look to shut up, but she continued. "If you don't fix this shit. If you run away like a coward, you'd be no better now than you were back then. You're being given a second chance today, Casey. You get that right? Even if it doesn't end with you going home with the girl by the end of the night, you'll at least be able to get some sort of closure. Take the fuckin' hand that life is giving you right now, and fix this shit yourself. Or so help me god I will lock you and Jenna in a closet for the rest of the night until you fix your shit between you two. Because I swear, you're gonna kill me by the time I'm 30, and I'm nearly there." Erin finally finished her long rant as she cleaned out a shot glass, placing it to the side as she shot Casey a side eyed glance.
Casey couldn't help but admit that Erin made countlesly correct statements. Even if she didn't like it, she was right. About it all. And that was the worst part of it all. Erin was always right, and while she wasn't going to admit it aloud, she appreciated hearing it from someone else. Even if now wasn't the time. Hell, now especially wasn't the time. Casey opened her mouth to respond, but felt her phone buzz in her hand. Looking down she saw it was a text from Lia.
Lia:
I MISS YOUR FACE!! are u here?
The text read. Casey took a deep breath of relief as she sent out a quick response of her own.
Casey:
MISS YOU TOO, BABE! And yes! At the bar! Please help, Erin is already terrorizing me. I need help, ASAP!
Casey tucked her phone away back into her pocket as she got to her feet, glass in hand, "I swear, if you make tonight hell for me or any of the others. Well, more than you already did, I swear. I'm gonna have to kill you, Erin." Casey shot her a look, before a small grin creased her lips. "Love you too, Cas. Now, go see who you're actually here for, or was your booty call of a text more important?" Erin mocked, looking at another patron who placed a glass down. "Oh please. It was Lia. She was asking me if I was here yet. And I haven't seen Ben yet, but I'll get to looking for him soon. That and well, I've stuck to flying solo in recent years...Just...Easier that way." Erin flashed her cousin a grin, "Hey man, just cuz you're flying solo, doesn't mean you can't get any, if you know what I mean." Casey groaned, "Oh fuck me, come on now, Erin." Erin chuckled, "I mean, I don't think I'm the one you should be saying that to. Cuz, I'm pretty sure there's someone else here who you'd rather be saying that to, right?" Erin grinned. Casey felt her face flush, "I swear I will harm you if you don't shut up, Erin." Erin gave a small chuckle, "Sorry, just stating facts." Casey shook her head as she rubbed her temples, "You're infuriating." she chuckled as she took another sip of her drink, mindlessly going through her phone as she waited for Lia or another familiar face for her to say hi to. It's why she was here after all. Right?