FortySixtyFour

RE: Trailer Trash 63, 63 pt 3

“Don’t scratch!” Mrs. Macintire chided in a teasing tone. “Goodness, you’re gonna give yourself a rash, or somethin.’”“I-I wasn’t scratching!” Tabitha protested with a giddy smile. “I was rubbing.”They had checked in at Springton General Hospital’s front desk twenty minutes ago and were still seated in the waiting area. Once again Mrs. Macintire had grabbed them both magazines to leaf through, but now Tabitha was too distracted by her new hand to bring much attention to the pages. Which of course was a source of amusem...

After AnimeCon 2: Crabs in a Bucket

As per the usual with late night get togethers at Aunt Mattie’s, Emily and those of the group who were still drinking without restraint—they dubbed themselves silly squadron—grew increasingly boisterous, loud, and unhinged as the hours wore on. Discourse there on that side of the fire wasn’t so much a conversation as it was a constant barrage of in-jokes, interrupting innuendo, arguments, and insults that continuously increased in volume.Tanya’s English lapsed sometimes into Russian and sometimes into giggles, while Mary, Becky and Ka...

After AnimeCon 2: Everyone's Personal Business

In splendid awkward fashion, Rebecca seemed to arrive at the turn-off to Aunt Mattie’s driveway just behind Will’s rusty old van as it was pulling in. So she slowed, unsure whether or not she should give him a friendly beep of recognition, and then followed him on down the long path, pulling in beside him as he parked. She wasn’t particularly close to William or Michael, but she did remember them and Tanya going to the last Bear Valley Renn Faire along with Emily. Like most college-aged guys there, Michael and Will had taken to swinging p...

After AnimeCon 2: Blackmail

“So uh, where do you work?” Candace asked Brian. “I don’t think Stephanie mentioned?”“Well—that’s kind of a long story,” Brian let out an uneasy laugh. “Thing is—”Seeing that Brian and Candace were beginning to engage in the more tedious processes of getting to know one another, Kelly began to tune their conversation out. Although she had dressed to the nines tonight and intended on really impressing all of Brian and Emily’s local friends, it was often difficult to find the right places to insert her particular brand o...

After AnimeCon 2: It's Complicated

Candace led with her contribution—a cardboard carrypack with six bottles of Condor Lite. Following this outstretched offering was a tidy-looking woman with dark brunette hair who seemed to look across the gathering around the fire and immediately put on a sheepish smile, as if realizing she was overdressed for the occasion. Her outfit was cute and professional in a sporty way; a blue short-sleeve women’s golf polo buttoned the whole way up, paired with a white skirt that extended down to just above her knee. Brian could easily imagine the e...

After AnimeCon 2: The Whole Story

Pheewwww… Rebecca rolled a stiff shoulder and then stretched out both arms.It had taken several hours and the sun was down already, but she’d finally made it home. Her hatchback was pulled into its usual space in the wide driveway just beside her grandfather’s truck, and now she was standing beside the open door to her vehicle, trying to shake off that frazzled sort of lethargy that came with long drives. Rather than drop Stephanie off at her residence hall or even on the campus grounds at all, messaging back and forth with Megan allowed ...

After AnimeCon 2: With Friends Like These

“Chloe,” Monique hissed under her breath. “Are you literally going to let that dumb bitch just, just—walk all over you like that?!”While everyone else was explaining what they wanted for Tanya to thumb into her phone as an order, Monique had pulled one of the lawn chairs over closer to Chloe so that they could speak with one another in low voices and not be overheard.“She’s going to get what’s coming to her,” Christine promised, narrowing her eyes for dramatic effect as she glared across the bonfire in Kelly’s direction. “...

RE: Trailer Trash 63 pt 2

Tabitha was on the edge of the passenger seat of Sandra’s Acura and fidgeting with anticipation as they pulled into the strip mall plaza attached to Springton’s Food Lion. Although they would be returning to Springton General Hospital later to get X-rays taken of her skull and evaluated for physical activity again, the Macintires had arranged for her cast to be removed here, at a nearby orthopedic clinic that shared a parking lot with the grocery store.“Would it have been more convenient to just have both appointments at the hospital?” ...

RE: Trailer Trash 63, 63 pt 1

The Macintire household happened to be the closest from Springton High and so Tabitha was dropped off first—she thanked Casey for the ride and hopped out of the Jimmy, waving goodbye to everyone. Although it had been another long day of high school, Art Club had her in pretty high spirits, so Tabitha wore a small smile as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. There was a bit of homework to take care of, but nothing tootedious, and after that she planned to make scalloped potatoes for dinner.Tuesday night I didn’t really impress with tho...

Naiades Aqua Ft. AnimeCon Harem

RE: Trailer Trash 62, Art Club meeting.

/// The complete chapter 62. For those followin

After AnimeCon 2: The Bonfire

It wasn’t until Kelly spared a glance behind her to gauge Brian’s reaction to all of this that strings of anxiety tightened in her tummy. Would she find annoyance written across his features? Disappointment, or exasperation? There was this careful balancing act of how much of her true self she should reveal to others—the bold, provocative Kelly who never shied away from acting on her impulses—and the restraint she should probably be showing here, instead. Did she just fuck up the charade they were supposed to put on for Brian’s friend...

RE: Trailer Trash, 62 pt 6

With a new member here in the Art Club today, the half hour that followed after the meeting proper was mostly spent socializing and showing off. Alicia and William both took up stools near Tabitha, opened up their sketch books, and went through them page by page so that they could flaunt all of their cool drawings to Tabitha. Alicia’s work was dozens upon dozens of partial sketches of realistic human figures—mostly female, with a lot of focus on different angles and poses. Almost all of them were without clothing but not exactly ‘naked,�...

After AnimeCon 2: Deus Ex-Girlfriend Machina

Giddiness and concern sloshed against one another in opposition as Emily took Kelly by the hand and they followed Michael and Brian up towards the house. Emily felt almost uninhibited at the thrill of being back here to a bonfire with Brian finally, of reuniting with their local gang here. But also, she needed to be more careful with how she presented herself. It was too easy to fall back into the familiar back and forth bickering with these losers on the periphery of their friend group which she didn’t particularly get along with, but Emily ...

RE: Trailer Trash, 62 pt 5

To her surprise, Mrs. Hart followed them back through the store room and into Mr. Peterson’s art room, because she had something to announce. As this seemed to be related to the agenda of today’s Art Club meeting, Tabitha hurried back to sit near Alicia, who gave her appearance in the shirt an appreciative look and a silent pair of thumbs up.“Ladies, gentlemen—boys and girls…” Mrs. Hart clasped her hands together for their attention. “I am very pleasedto announce that we will be performing The Wizas our spring musical. Now. We alw...

RE: Trailer Trash, 62 pt 4

Table six remained quiet today once everyone realized that their first assignment here was almost due. Everyone busied themselves with their drawings of the wine bottles and champagne flutes, occasionally taking silent glances upwards to double-check the pieces in the center of the table. A few rather discreet looks around the others’ work revealed quite a bit of disparity—Vanessa somehow didn’t even have the full silhouette outlines drawn even after several days of this, because she had been talking a lot. Eric, on the other hand not onl...

After AnimeCon 2: Arriving at Aunt Mattie's

Out on the edges of town, the strip malls and shopping centers rolling by their windows dwindled and became infrequent, and then the neat lines of curbs and sidewalks alongside them gave way to sprawling stretches of gravel and grass. In no time at all, Brian and the girls left the streetlights behind, the four lanes became two, and the roadside an untidy shoulder sporting thickets of growth. The moon still painted a canvas of light across the clouds in a strip overhead, but the road itself was framed with darkness that brightened into swathes ...

After AnimeCon 2: Mrs. Rivera's Ultimatum

“Moooom—!”Emily called as she opened the door of the Rivera residence for the first time in what felt like ages. “I’m home.”“Emily?!” Mrs. Rivera exclaimed from the living room. “Is everything okay?”“Uhh, yeah?” Emily kicked off her shoes and padded across the foyer in her socks. “Why wouldn’t it be?!”It felt strange to be back here, and there was that juxtaposition of conflicting feelings that roiled up every time she returned. It was home,it was the comfort of the familiar, but also with that came the stifling, r...

RE: Trailer Trash, 62 pt 3

Tabitha crossed the bustling back quad and then entered the art room. Her detour speaking with Jake hadn’t made her toolate, but to her dismay Amber had already arrived and was waiting. The barstools in this class made it easy for her to sit the other way watching the door, and Amber’s grin widened as she laid eyes on Tabitha and she held up a hand and wiggled her fingers in mocking way.“Ta-bi-tha~!”Amber called. “So, you’re having it out with all of the cheerleaders,too? Gurl,you better watch you aren’t fixin’ to bite off more�...

After AnimeCon 2: Meeting Monique

Moving now with a purpose, Brian led the girls out of the apartment and into the night air. It was cool out but not quite chilly, and although the sun had set the moon was out and it was bright, a white mostly-complete circle painting silver definition across the clouds. To his surprise, he was really looking forward to tonight. Reuniting with the local group here was longoverdue, and it felt like this more than anything else was a real return home. The apartment was a place he stayed but had more bleak memories than it had good ones still, and...

RE: Trailer Trash, 62 pt 2

“Hey, Tabby,” Gary’s loud friend from the bus called. “Wait up a minute.”Fifth period Biologyclass had basically concluded, and now all of the students were either talking quietly or staring off out the row of windows, disassociating as they waited for the bell to release them to head to sixth period. Gary’s friend from the bus had rounded the aisle of desks and walked over towards where Tabitha sat, and Tabitha was thrown into a panic as she mentally scrambled through names to try to fit his into place again. She knewhis name—she...

After AnimeCon 2: Brian's Bruises

“Worried about the party?” Brian asked.It was awkward sitting back against the bathroom counter and having Christine staring at his face from just inches away, and he felt the need to make conversation. In the brighter light in here, Christine looked especially dazzling with her new silver hair, and having nowhere else to look he couldn’t help but admire her. She didn’t have Chloe’s cold spite within her, but it was hard for him to determine what Christine’s specific qualities instead were. She just seemed softspoken, detached, and ...

RE: Trailer Trash 62, 62 pt 1

As invigorating as it had been to get Manager John in trouble for his scheduling shenanigans on Tuesday afternoon, and see both Tracy and Manager Bob practically lining upto kick the man when he was down—that incident wasn’t without its consequences. On Thursday morning after having enjoyed an entire Wednesday off, Mrs. Moore clocked into work at Food Lion to discover a stony-faced Manager John… who had decided not to put her on register today.“We don’t need you in Front End today,”Manager John had said in a flat tone devoid of all ...

After AnimeCon 2: Dressing Up

“Well,” Brian said with a long slow sigh. “We’re back.”With one final turn he maneuvered into their section of Altamonte Apartments, and then simply eased his car into his normal parking spot in front of his place. The complex was a row of two-story townhouses, though each unit was only single-story and back then he’d been lucky enough to get a ground floor one that didn’t require him to trudge up and down one of the sets of exterior stairs every day. After a couple years the place was comfortable enough, but it never really felt ...

RE: Trailer Trash 61, Singing to herself.

/// The complete chapter 61.    Deb and

After AnimeCon 2: Group Chat

The atmosphere was subdued for their long trip back to Seneca. Once again in the driver’s seat, Brian had plenty to think about, but found his train of thought was a bit scattered and concentration was elusive right now. Beside him in the passenger’s side, Christine sat with stiff posture staring forward, her hands settled upon her knees as if she was unable to let herself rest back and relax. Kelly’s mood appeared to continue to dive and occasional sips at her coffee didn’t seem to give her any energy. Even the typically talkative Emil...

After AnimeCon 2: Teary-Eyed Goodbyes

/// A directcontinuation from where we left off in After AnimeCon, and will be appending these sections to end of the After AnimeConpage for now.“What if, and, hear me out, here…” Emily cleared her throat and then allowed for a dramatic pause. “What if the realharem turned out to be the friends we made along the way?”Everyone groaned, and several wadded up napkins were immediately thrown Emily’s way.“What?!” Emily giggled, holding up her hands to ward off a late crumpled napkin from Stephanie. “What?!What did I say?!”“You�...

RE: Trailer Trash 61 pt 4

/// Much longer bit today! Rather than one teaser, this one's more like three teasers trying to disguise themselves in the same trenchcoat to sneak into a theater.“But the lack thereof would leave me empty inside~!”Tabitha sang.“Swallow my doubt! Turn it inside OUT!”Bobby cried out, headbanging to music only they could hear.““Find nothin’ but FAITH IN NOTHIN!!””They sang together.Tabitha burst into a fit of giggles at the sheer spontaneity of their little moment here, while Bobby had his eyes squeezed closed and was contin...

RE: Trailer Trash 61 pt 3

Tabitha’s good mood couldn’t be repressed, and the bounce didn’t leave her step even after stepping down off the bus to discover the two cheerleaders from yesterday were waiting for her. Or, perhaps there were three of them,now—it was hard to tell who was standing with who in the crowded front commons with everyone milling about or looking to find their friends fresh off of the buses. The third girl standing near the cheerleaders had darkish-blonde hair and was very pretty, in that unapproachable popular girlsort of way that would norma...

RE: Trailer Trash 61 pt 2

“Wake! Up! Kids!”Tabitha sang in a quiet voice. “~We’ve got the dreamers disease!”Unlike yesterday, this bright Thursday morning Tabitha woke up with an energetic smile and lyrics on her lips. The problems from the day prior seemed distant and unimportant now, ephemeral,like shadow and frost vanishing as brilliant new sunshine beamed across the suburban yards. After all, how could she notfeel great? How had it been so easy to lose sight of all of the incredible things Tabitha had going for her?“Age! Four! Teen!”She continued to mu...