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Shay lay sprawled across the couch that sat alone, besides one lamp and a boxy TV, in Pallene’s new apartment’s living room. Meanwhile Pallene was closed in her room getting herself together.

“So… how long will it go on? Maine’s pretty chilly this time of year. Is it outside?” Shay talked loudly so Pal could hear him.

She called back through the door, “It’s just the weekend.” She was getting frustrated with yanking on her tights “It’s not a big deal, man.”

“Why are you so defensive about it?”

“I’m not! Will you just- god dammit” one of her fingers popped through the black tights that she almost had all the way up. She had needed to get away from her usual crowd so she could feel free to express herself in a different way and be someone new. Her friends all where just so grabby sometimes she couldn’t stand it. It was the night before a festival that she had gotten tickets for months ago; the show was a special Halloween bash with a traditional gothic/punk theme – something she’d always had a passion for most of her life but never really expressed in a dramatic way.

“Christ, it’s like you’re cheating on us with another band of something!” Shay said playfully while fidgeting with one of the throw pillows.

Pal swallowed as she reached for the door knob. She had the reply fast, the longer she took the guiltier she’d sound. “Yeah... right.” she managed a chuckle as she opened the door. Shay looked up at her with an eyebrow raised.

“How much did that thing cost ya?” he asked, referring to her new spiked leather jacket that was decorated with lots of pins that she had searched all across EBay for.

“Month’s rent” she replied with a grin and adjusted it at the collar. She headed into the kitchen to get her other supplies. Shay got up and followed, inspecting it closer. The height difference of the two was quite apparent at this point – especially with the heeled boots Pal had on. Shay reached up and poked the tips of the pointy spikes on the jacket’s shoulder. He then eyed the pins on the lapels.

“Pretty hardcore.” he said in a neutral tone.

Pal felt her face get hot, it was silly but she always got a nervous feeling when she showed her close friends a new thing she was into.

“Whats the red drops mean? You kill someone?” Shay asked sarcastically.

Pal smirked “Uh- No just cool looking I guess” even though she knew well that they were a symbol for vampirism, or at least that’s what it said when she bought it. He’d probably think she was some weirdo. She hoped he’d get bored and leave before she had to put in her extensions and make-up, but of course just then Max sauntered on in wearing her usual comfy sweat suit and a coffee in her hand. As soon as she entered the kitchen a smile grew across her face. 

“Damn girl – we finally gonna get rockin’ for real?” Maxine had always been a hard rock fan and was always pushing the band to get louder – even though Jon and Al adamantly wanted the sound to stay a soft roots rock. Honestly Pal’s songwriting always sounded better that way but she’d been having a lot of fun expanding her writing style to a harder rock in the past few weeks.

“You guys are gonna make me late.” Pal grabbed the shopping bag she had left on the table and headed for the bathroom.

Max and Shay made a face at each other.

“Late for where?” Max asked.

“Some spooky festival in Maine” Shay said with a mouth full of the chips he’d grabbed off a nearby counter.

“Oh that sounds fun, we all going?”

Pal sighed; there were the grabby hands again. “No, um, it’s nothing special... I mean it’s fun but-“  She closed the bathroom door.

Max chuckled “Oookay. So it’s a special date then? Is she cute?” she sat down on the arm of the couch facing the bathroom.

Pal was blending her face over with the lightest foundation she could find to lighten her complexion, which was pretty much white considering how pale she naturally was. “It’s not like that. Why can’t I just want to go off and do my own thing for once? It’s like I’m a part of the mob or something- I have to ask the family’s blessing!” she yelled in a mock tone.

Maxine made a raised expression and slid into the actual seat of the couch, careful not to spill her latte. “You’re acting like you’ve run out of pills again! Sweetie, I told you that you could hit me up for funds for stuff like that.”

“No I’m fine-“

Shay plopped down on the other end of the couch, “She spent it all on her murder jacket!” He still spoke with a mouth full.

“Murder jacket?” Maxine spoke toward Shay.

“The red drops mean she killed people” he grinned.

Maxine looked confused “what?”

Pal called from the bathroom “You guys are impossible!” ­

 

She stepped out of the bathroom after what seemed like an eternity of trying to convince the green extensions to stay in and stay up. She had just had her hair cut into a shorter Mohawk style, and everyone took that with a little surprise but they got over it... but she really didn't know how this would go. Shay took one look and a wide grin spread across his face, he fell forward in laughter. Maxine tried hard to hide her laughter too.

“Wow” Max said the best normal voice she could manage “that’s, um, that’s something.”

“Something outta the eighties!” Shay said in a bellow of laughter.

Pal felt that funny feeling in her chest whenever her anxiety drove her to hide in the corner but she wouldn’t let herself do that this time. She just kept a straight face headed for the bedroom to get the rest of her things for the trip.

Shay walked over to the bedroom doorway “Well you don’t have to be pissy about it – you gotta admit that’s pretty wild, especially for miss minimal-in-black.”

Pallene just shot him a glare.

“I mean it’s pretty badass though, I wouldn’t mess with that.” Max spoke up, peering in beside Shay. The comment made Pal lighten a bit into a grin.

“You’re bringing your piano?” Shay questioned.

Pal realized she’d left her keyboard piano on the bed in its case. She nervously swallowed again before replying “Yeah”.

The front door to the apartment slammed again, the familiar clicking of cowboy boots across the linoleum kitchen filled the momentarily silent apartment.

Max, not paying much attention to the newest visitor, kept her concerned gaze on Pal.

“I mean it’s okay to go do other shit dude. No big deal. You don’t need to be so nervous about it - just weekend of playing vampire bride.” She finished with a grin.

“Ho-lee shit.” Al took off his scratched sunglasses “Joining the freak show?” he stood behind Max and Shay. Pal felt really uncomfortable now – three pairs of judging eyes.

Max turned to the unkempt mess of a man behind her “Ain’t you the ride in?” to which he just replied with a toothy grin.

“For real Pally, what is the deal? Is this some kinda underhand breakup message?” Shay started to sound a bit more concerned.

OKAY I hate how I can never come up with backgrounds for my art. I really need to try more. Anyway - Pal is getting a spooky revamp  >B)
Note: Left is with her extensions and right is without, she probably usually goes without but sometimes does wear them during the day in a longer laid-down style.)

Band members refs here
(!! I still haven't fully designed Max OR Shay smfh, I need to do that. I also might redesign the others a lil idk.)