Damaged Petals.

[djp73]

Find myself relating to Brice somewhat frequently. Not sure what to think of that

[Soapy]

Is that ... a breakthrough?

We must support our brother during this time

She counted as she worked. One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

"You too," she said, meaning it more than she expected to.

gonna have an open marriage where they both fuck old flames lmao

they're catholic bro idk if that's allowed

Brice still a piece of shit.

Liz about to go get the dust knocked off that pussy.

All seriousness aside, scraping condiments off bread and returning the bread to the bag is the most diabolical shit I’ve ever heard in my life. That mustard and mayo residue gonna get hot.

You would catch that

she didn't put the condiments on all of them yet

Find myself relating to Brice somewhat frequently. Not sure what to think of that

its YALL that made Brice to be some monster

just a 19-year old figuring life and himself out.

[Soapy]

Season 5, Episode 10
Nia huddled with Brian and Zack in the shadow of the old oak tree, the rising sun barely penetrating the thick canopy above them. The small park that separated St. Joseph's from John Adams High School was their regular meeting spot, a no-man's-land between their two worlds where they could exist.

"Go easy on this," Brian said, his fingers working deftly to roll the joint. "This is that rapper weed."

The early morning chill made her shiver as she glanced at her watch, the morning bell set to ring in fifteen minutes. Plenty of time to get high and still make it through the front gates before the Sisters started taking names.

"You sure your ass can handle this?" Zack smirked.

"Shut up," Nia sucked her teeth, rolling her eyes.

Brian chuckled as he struck the lighter, the flame dancing in the dim morning light. The joint caught, and he took the first hit, holding the smoke deep in his lungs before passing it to Nia.

She inhaled carefully, feeling the burn travel down her throat and settle in her chest. The familiar tightness, then release as she exhaled slowly, watching the smoke dissipate into the cool air. Already, she could feel the edges of her world softening, the constant knot in her stomach beginning to unravel.

"I do not missing having to deal with this bullshit," Brian said, leaning back against the tree trunk. "I can’t imagine being in that building for a whole fucking day anymore."

"Yeah, unemployment looks great on you," Zack laughed, accepting the joint from Nia.

"It's called being self-employed, dipshit," Brian flipped him off.

Nia listened to their banter, letting it wash over her as the high began to take effect. Everything felt more immediate, more real than the hollow emptiness that had become her constant companion.

"We should hit the dunes," Brian said, breaking into her thoughts.

"I can't," she replied quickly, not wanting to let the idea ruminate in her head too long. "Can’t miss any more classes."

"Since when do you care?" Zack asked, blowing smoke rings towards her face.

Nia shrugged, not wanting to admit that the thought of disappointing her mother, again, was more than she could handle right now. "I don’t want that truancy shit on my permanent record."

"Permanent record," Brian mimicked in a high-pitched voice. "Oh no, not the permanent record."

"Easy for you to say," Nia shot back. "Your record was probably fucked by the time you were in the eight grade."

Brian laughed. "And look at me now. A high level pharmaceutical salesmen."

The joint made its way back to Nia. She took another hit, holding it in her lungs until the urge to cough became too strong. The high was settling in now, making her body feel both weightless and too heavy to move.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket as her alarm ringed off.

"I gotta go," she said, reluctantly pushing herself to her feet.

"Responsible Nia," Brian teased. "Always doing the right thing."

"Hardly," she muttered, brushing grass from her skirt.

Brian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plastic bag, holding it up between two fingers. "A little lunch time bake. Reward for being a responsible person and going to school, unlike this future welfare case Zack."

"Fuck you, man," Zack laughed, shoving Brian's shoulder.

…

Brice stared at his matcha latte, the pale green liquid forming a small whirlpool as he stirred it absently. The coffee shop hummed with the steady rhythm of Monday morning with students hunched over laptops and baristas calling out orders with.

"I still can't believe you drink that stuff," Mel said, wrinkling her nose as she sipped her black coffee. "Such a performative male."

Brice looked up, one eyebrow raised. "How the fuck can a drink be performative?"

"You know," she gestured vaguely at his cup, "It’s part of the male aesthetic that you guys are going for these days."

"I just want some caffeine that’s not going to kill me," he countered, taking a deliberate sip. "Not everything is a statement."

"Everything is a statement," Mel shook her head. "Especially for guys like you."

"Guys like me?" Brice repeated, unable to keep the amusement from his voice. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," she said, her dark eyes dancing with mischief. "Pretentious star athlete who's used to having everything handed to him. Girls fawning over him. Teachers looking the other way. The straight While male experience but on steroids."

"Is that what you think?" He couldn't tell if she was joking or if there was some truth behind her words.

"Am I wrong?" she shrugged, taking another sip of her coffee.

Brice considered this, turning the cup between his palms. "About some things, maybe."

"Like what?"

"Like the 'having everything handed to me' part," he said. "And for the record, I’m a one-woman type of man. I was with the same girl for all of high school pretty much."

Mel's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously? I find that hard to believe."

"Believe what you want," he shrugged. "We literally broke up right before I came here. Before that? Only her."

"High school sweethearts," Mel mocked. "That's almost quaint."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Brice tried to hide his blush.

He watched as Mel processed this, her expression shifting from teasing to something more thoughtful. She didn't press for details, though, which he appreciated in their increasingly frequent talks.

"What about you?" he asked, eager to shift the focus away from himself. "I'm guessing you've got a trail of broken hearts behind you."

Mel laughed. "Hardly. I've never been 'taken,' and I never will be."

"Never?" Brice leaned back in his chair. "That's a pretty definitive statement."

"Traditional relationships are only beneficial for men," she said matter-of-factly. "You get emotional support, consistent sex, and someone to handle all the invisible labor. What do women get? Disappointment and extra work."

"Wow," Brice couldn't help but laugh. "Tell me how you really feel."

"I just did," she grinned, completely unapologetic.

"So what, you're just going to be alone forever?"

"Who said anything about being alone?" Mel raised an eyebrow. "I'm just not going to be locked into some outdated social construct that wasn't designed with my best interests in mind."

Brice nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"What?" she asked, catching his expression.

"Nothing," he said. "I'm just trying to picture you at sixty, still giving this speech to some poor guy who offers to buy you dinner."

Mel threw her napkin at him, hitting him squarely in the face. "Sixty-year-old me will be even more convinced, thank you very much."

"And probably still drinking that lame ass black coffee," Brice added, ducking as she threatened to throw her spoon next.

"At least I'm consistent," she shot back. "Unlike some people who pretend to like weird green tea just to seem interesting."

"It's matcha, not weird green tea," he corrected, enjoying the easy back-and-forth between them. "And I genuinely like it."

"Sure you do," Mel rolled her eyes, but her smile remained.

…

The weed had hit her harder than expected, Brian not lying about it being "rapper weed." Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, and the lights in the classroom seemed to pulse and blur. T

She tried to keep her eyes open, to at least maintain the appearance of paying attention, but her head kept nodding forward. Just for a minute, she thought, resting her forehead on her folded arms. Just until the room stops spinning.

"Nia."

The voice seemed to come from far away, easily ignored as Nia drifted deeper into sleep.

"Miss!"

A hand gripped her shoulder, shaking her roughly. Nia jerked awake, disoriented. The classroom came into focus slowly, twenty-five pairs of eyes fixed on her, some concerned, most amused. Sister Margaret loomed over her desk, lips pressed into a thin line. Beside her stood Mr. Reeves, the school resource officer, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Come with us, please," Sister Margaret said, her voice clipped.

Nia's heart hammered against her ribs.

"Bring your bag," Mr. Reeves added, his gaze cold and assessing.

Nia stood on shaky legs, slinging her backpack over one shoulder. The movement sent a wave of dizziness through her, and she gripped the edge of her desk to steady herself. Sister Margaret led the way into the hallway, Mr. Reeves following behind Nia like a prison guard. The corridor stretched endlessly ahead, the walls seeming to contract and expand with each step. They stopped outside the administrative offices, and Sister Margaret gestured toward a small conference room.

"Sit," she commanded once they were inside.

Nia dropped into the nearest chair, her backpack clutched protectively in her lap. She tried to focus, to clear the fog from her brain.

"Nia," Sister Margaret began, "This is the third time this month you've fallen asleep in my class."

"I'm sorry," Nia mumbled. "I haven't been sleeping well."

"That's not all," Sister Margaret continued. "Mr. Reeves and I both noticed the smell when we woke you."

Nia's mouth went dry. "What smell?"

"Marijuana," Mr. Reeves stated flatly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nia said, the denial automatic even as panic rose in her chest.

"We need to check your bag," Sister Margaret said, extending her hand.

Nia tightened her grip on the backpack. "Don't I need, like, a parent present or something? Don't you need a warrant?"

Mr. Reeves let out a short, humorless laugh. "This isn't public school, young lady. This is a private Catholic institution. Your parents signed a contract when they enrolled you that gives us the right to search your belongings if we have reasonable suspicion."

"I don't consent to a search," Nia insisted.

Sister Margaret's expression hardened. "I'm afraid you don’t really have a choice here, girl."

…

"I've been thinking about next month," Liz announced as she stood by the kitchen island, glass of wine in hand.

Tom barely looked up from the stove where he was stirring a pot of chili, his back to her. "What about it?"

"It's Jimmy's birthday."

The wooden spoon paused for just a moment before resuming its slow circles. "I'm aware."

Liz took a breath, pressing her palms flat against the cool countertop. "I thought we might do something. Nothing big, just... something to acknowledge it."

"Acknowledge what exactly?" Tom asked, his voice tight as he reached for the salt.

"His birthday, Tom."

Tom turned then, his expression unreadable. "I know it’s his birthday. And what would that look like?"

The harshness in his voice made her flinch, but she pressed on. "I was thinking we could invite a few people over. His friends. Some family."

"A party," Tom said flatly, turning back to the stove. "You want to throw a party."

"Not a party," Liz corrected, the familiar frustration building in her chest. "A remembrance. A celebration of his life."

"I don't see what we'd be celebrating," Tom muttered, reaching for the pepper. "We’ve already had the funeral."

Liz closed her eyes briefly, gathering herself. "This isn't about his death. It's about honoring him, remembering him, celebrating his life."

Tom was silent, focused intently on the chili as if it required his complete concentration.

"I'm going to do it," Liz said finally. "I just wanted you to know."

Tom's shoulders tensed, then dropped with a heavy exhale. He gave a small, noncommittal shrug without turning around. "Consider it known."

[djp73]

sister mary elephant about to have Nia on the streets

[Caesar]

Glad Mel not gonna date this lying (one woman all through high school, pah!) Yakubian degenerate and get corrupted by him

Nia gotta be Black with the way you setting her up for a world of hurt, Soapy Perry.

Tom and Liz need to just fight it out like they used to do in Germany to settle marital spats.

[redsox907]

they're catholic bro idk if that's allowed

Catholics love saying do as I say, not as I do. Pretty sure diddling kids is against the rules too, but y'now

"Believe what you want," he shrugged. "We literally broke up right before I came here. Before that? Only her."

not counting all the groupies he smashed on the side. Oh and don't forget her best friend smh

Nia cooked, bout to get shipped up the river to boarding school. Or they gonna kick her out, she's going to drop out, and end up a degenerate like Brian in a throuple with him and his girl

Liz and Tom are insufferable. I get they're dealing with guilt in different ways, but neither are healthy and it's forcing them farther apart. Supposed to come together

[Captain Canada]

Idk what you're plotting on Nia, but I know the shit's going to be dastardly.

[Soapy]

sister mary elephant about to have Nia on the streets

you're so old i love it lmao

Glad Mel not gonna date this lying (one woman all through high school, pah!) Yakubian degenerate and get corrupted by him

Nia gotta be Black with the way you setting her up for a world of hurt, Soapy Perry.

Tom and Liz need to just fight it out like they used to do in Germany to settle marital spats.

You know the Colton boys love their choco so yeah, Nia is black

Tom doesn't support DV, neither does his son(s)

they're catholic bro idk if that's allowed

Catholics love saying do as I say, not as I do. Pretty sure diddling kids is against the rules too, but y'now

"Believe what you want," he shrugged. "We literally broke up right before I came here. Before that? Only her."

not counting all the groupies he smashed on the side. Oh and don't forget her best friend smh

Nia cooked, bout to get shipped up the river to boarding school. Or they gonna kick her out, she's going to drop out, and end up a degenerate like Brian in a throuple with him and his girl

Liz and Tom are insufferable. I get they're dealing with guilt in different ways, but neither are healthy and it's forcing them farther apart. Supposed to come together

He technically was in one relationship throughout high school but I ain't gonna Caesar y'all

Idk what you're plotting on Nia, but I know the shit's going to be dastardly.

The journey is where growth happens

[Soapy]

happy 420

[Soapy]