cigarettes [Leighton Murray]

happy and messy

"where are you off to?" abby asked when she saw rue leaving with her guitar at midnight

"to beyonce's basement, what do you think?" rue replied frustrated. 

she had received a text from aiden, the guy who was not so official leader of 'the extacy' that they'd be throwing a party tonight and rue had to be there. 

she walked inside the club and it was crowded, even more so than the first time she performed here for the auditions. it was underground so it felt a little suffocating but rue got throught it. she spotted aiden at the backstage. 

"hey" she greeted the guy, who dapped her up "what's this about?" 

"yeah, the theta thing got demolished or whatever so it's a good time to get noticed by like minded students" he explained  

"that's some big ass words" rue chuckled setting her guitar down "any difference in the set list?" a brunette with blue highlights stopped beside her 

"nope" aiden replied "although, the surprise song" he smiled to himself, the girl beside rue following his actions, making rue confused 

"what's up?" she furrowed her eyebrows she had never heard the term 'surprise song' in this context 

"oh well" the girl put her arm around rue's shoulder "the surprise song, is a song we play at the end only this cheeky little asshole knows the song, the rest of us practically have to guess as the song in being played and continue playing, it's a fun little game" she shrugged 

"and you are...?" rue wasn't trying to be rude, she just didn't know who the girl was "i am quinn, i handle the drums. i am so glad the other guy didn't get chosen, i would've been kicked out" 

so this place is brutal, the minute someone better than you comes along, you'll get kicked out. doesn't matter what you want or how much time you've given to the place, if you're not the best at what you do, they'll find someone who is

on the stage, yeah rue wass nervous. she knew the songs they were pkaying but the surprise song... well she just prayed her luck worked in her favour. 

after 2 hours of non stop playing, the band was out of breath and sweating. aiden took that into consideration and decided to mingle with the crowd giving them a break.

 rue mingled with the other bandmates, she found out the other guy was Flynn, he was 5'9 and humour was all he had basically apart from the bass. quinn was about 5'7 and she was the fierce one, protecting the others in any situation, she reminded rue of herself back when she was in middle school. 

"okay now" aiden glanced at the band, silently telling them to get ready "for the surprise song" aiden smirked bringing the mic to his thigh. he slapped his thigh to a rhythm 

thump click... 

thump thump click... 

thump thump tadaow thump thump click 

rue was anxious and unsure if what she was thinking was ven the actual song or not. she waited for the guitar part and played right when aiden began to sing the lyrics 

"Arabella's got some interstellar-gator skin boots" he looked back at rue and smirked, proud of his choice. 

when rue looked back up and made eye contact with aiden it was this moment, the lights were shining from behind his turned around face, the microphone in his hand pressed so close to his lips, his other hand casually resting on the mic stand. his rolled up shirt sleeve. 

the next day she ran into kayla who was in a discussion with leighton's roommate, bela. kayla left when she realised she ordered a coffee at sips which she forgot about. 

"so you are rue?" bela asked analysing the girl "you're messed up and stuff, but holy shit you're hot" 

"thanks, i guess?" rue chuckled "what were you two talking about?" 

"oh the thetas banned me and my roommated from their parties and i have an idea to get us back in" 

"well, if you need any help, a friend of mine is in theta. not exactly a friend" she still remembered how brandon and abby had cheated on monopoly 

"yeah, it'd be great if you tag along" the two saw leighton with the girl from the party looking messy "why are you all happy messy looking?" bela asked leighton "wait did you just hook up?" she glanced at the girl beside leighton and whispered "with her?" 

rue crossed her arms. 

"yes, i did" leighton mumbled trying to make the situation less awkward 

"i am leighton's roommate" she turned to the girl "i've seen her change and you're one lucky lady" she wasn't sure if bela was talking to leighton's hookup or mocking rue 

"okay, alright. i am gonna hit you up later" leighton told the girl who pulled her in for a small kiss, or that's what rue thought. 

the kiss went on, the girl pulled her back in when leighton tried pulling away. tongues got visibly involved. rue cleared the throat awkwardly making the girl pull away and give her a look. 

"what is she doing here?" leighton asked bela gesturing to rue, making it very clear that she doesn't want anything to do with her 

"yeah well, i figured out a plan to make those theta guys let us back into the parties and since she knows a guy who is a member, i thought she could tag along"

"abby's boyfriend" rue cleared up  

"yeah whatever." she replied to ruee's statemeent avoiding looking at her. "i am gonna go with you" she said visibly not trusting the two girls 

"what are you two doing here?" a guy said as two others stood on either sides of him "what aprt of us actively hating you, don't you understand?" he turned to rue and smiled "not you rue, of course" 

"brandon" she nodded at the guy "what's going on? lift the ban it's so fucking stupid" 

"listen, i don't want to but since you told me i might've considered it but it's not just me, they wronged theta as a whole" brandon explained

bela stepped forward and held a guy's hand as she gave a speech about how the girls were 'stupid bitches' and apologizing, which sounded more like an insult.

"theta might lose their charter because of the stunt you pulled" brandon informed the girls 

"look, if you wanna get theta out of trouble prove to the administration that you're good guys, throw a fundraiser for something essex cares about you know?"

"like climate change or some shit like that" rue interjected 

"we can't even throw parties at the house anymore" brandon pointed out 

"let us figure out where to throw it" rue looked back at the guys "and if this works, you'll let these girls back to the parties, yeah?" 

"but why would anyone, go to a theta fundraiser?" he questioned. rue pointed behind them where a guy was thrusting in celebration