anna’s REAL smile catches her off-guard enough that there’s a beat of silence – a moment where her focus is on the side of anna that isn’t stressed from school or worried about what gossip girl thinks. she fumbles to find words for a second, but recovers quickly. ❛ 7:30.  ❜ she agrees, raising her hand to run through dark curls. ❛ — it gets hot. so don’t wear a sweater or anything long sleeve.  ❜ read: less is better. 

           she doesn’t expect her to say yes. they’re friends ( she thinks ) but she still expects her to come up with some excuse not to go. she’s preparing herself for the inevitable thanks but no thanks when she agrees and even if she tries to hide it, her face brightens. ❛ great. usually around nine, but i go early to provide moral support.  ❜ not that freddie needs her moral support but – oh well. ❛ i can come pick you up? ❜ 

                  she hesitates, but only for a second. there has to be a way to word this that doesn’t sound like she’s desperate to hang out with her. ❛ my brother – the pure, totally innocent one – is having a show tonight and my sisterly duty is to invite people. ❜ though, anna’s the first person she’s invited that’s more for HER than for her brother. she doesn’t need to know that though. ❛ this is me inviting you.  ❜ 

                     ❛ mmm, i don’t know, anna. i’m pretty out of your league, are you sure they’d believe it? ❜ he tilts his head, but there’s a clear smile tugging at lips. ❛ and, y’know, my family is just so tight knit i’m really not sure they could bear the extreme burden of not having me for thanksgiving. ❜

❝ even you have a hard time believing that...❞ she scrunches her face, patting him on the chest when she’s done with his tie. ❝  you’re a good guy, ash. pretty sure i owe you my entire life for this. i’m tired of the constant nagging about my dating life -- not that its any of their business, but i just want them off my back. ❞

          she laughs at the comment about freddie, not really even trying to dispute it. the facts were simple: she was the one built for the upper east side & all of it’s horrible antics – not her brother.  ❛  i know i sound like a crazy over-protective sister. ❜ despite the way she carries herself, she actually DOES care about someone other than herself.  ❛—  i actually have a question for you. ❜ 

            ❛  perfect.  ❜ she repeats, a smirk spreading on her lips. doing a project with anna was one thing, but spending their time together at a party is another. especially a party that’s bound to get crazy. she nods at anna’s words, ❛  so she’ll just chew my brother up and spit him out.  ❜ she knows that’s the way the upper east side works – it doesn’t mean she has to like it. ❛ as long as i’’m drunk and preoccupied, i promise not to start a fight at a party. scouts honor or whatever. ❜  

                             ❛ alright, shoot, but first i need one from you. — fix my tie for me? ❜

she gives him a playful eye roll before taking a step forward to adjust his tie in place. ❝ you know the thanksgiving dinner my parents organize every year? i was wondering if you could do me a solid & uhm, pretend to be my date for fifteen minutes, maybe? ❞

             ❛  – really?  ❜ to say she’s surprised would be an understatement. she never thought she’d see the day that her & anna would actually be friends and not just snark at each other for an hour straight. ❛  sounds good to me. you’ll have to keep me from being the worst sister and interrupting her flirting with him. i faked an injury once to keep him from taking a girl home. not my finest moment.  ❜ 

         ❝ now, anna, a girl as smart as you knows that breathing in your general vicinity isn’t harassment. ❞ but that doesn’t stop him from leaning against the wall, a slow smirk on his face. 

                 ❛ go for fifteen. just to be safe.  ❜ her family issues were going to end with her & freddie getting high all break, so she gets it. the question makes her pause again, ❛ nope. ❜ not that no one asked her – she just didn’t feel like being  arm candy for some random guy that always smells like tequila and regrets, ❛ you are though, right? ❜ 

               ❛  if i didn’t go, i’m pretty sure people would think i was dying or something.   ❜ a pause, ❛  you’re going, right?  ❜ 

❝  i know we don’t always see eye-to-eye but i was wondering -- are you going to the du pont’s pre holiday party? i heard its going to be pretty wild.❞

              ❛  meaning what?  ❜ her eyes roll, the momentary ease of conversation dying out quickly, ❛ sounds good to me. ❜ at least she didn’t get stuck with a project partner that doesn’t do anything. even if anna has been known to get under her skin, she’s not going to complain about someone actually doing their work.

             she hums at the question & the over-achiever jab, ❛ i don’t like to party with a project looming over my head. i can’t drink and dance in peace when i’m thinking about stuff like this. ❜ plus she knows that if she lets her grades slip, her chances of following the path that her parents laid out for her are slim. 

                ❛  it’s the upper east side – i know of three parties tonight. i’m sure something will happen that will make people forget about your alleged drug use. ❜ a pause & then she shrugs, ❛ and the next time someone asks for your dealers number, give them mine. i’ll play along. ❜