iii.  ᵍ⋅ ᵃᶜᵒˢᵗᵃ⋅           

^{when gustavo arrived in lakewood with his father,  he was  ALL  ALONE .    not many people found him exactly approachable.   and back in phoenix  ,   most avoided him due to the fact that he was a walking reminder that kyle was shot in the face and that he may have been responsible,  accident or not .   but they didn’t know that he was simply trying to keep his memory alive in his mind:  through his art.  nobody quite understood his unconventional way of dealing with the realities of life ,   so he didn’t try to explain.   to have a group of people willing to be his friend on some level was more than enough .  the reputation and aura of pure tragedy and betrayal that surrounded brooke and her friends did not scare him like it might have scared others .    and all previous fascination with it aside,  it was obvious that each of them were much more than a ranking .}   

 ^{❛      you don’t have to apologize .    i sorta asked for it in a way ,   didn’t i ?   got myself involved ,  started my graphic novel ,    never went away when you asked me to .   ❜}  

&   ^{though   she   was   one   of   those   very   people  /  just   before   murderville’s   reign   of   terror  continued  —  there’s   guilt   felt,   for   she   knows   classmates   are   correct.  (  everyone   who   comes   around   you   dies.  )   the   boy   has   seen   her   bare ; she   allowed   the   woes   of   boyfriend   trauma  & father   issues   come   into   play   within   his   very   presence  ——  he   deserved   a   barrel   of   respect,   a   bona   fide   acceptance.}  

she   holds   a   heavy   heart  ; ^{growing   within   her   from   the   very   first   act   of   bloodshed.   all   that   carnage,   all   those   victims   ripped   from   their   youth  ——  it’s   left   an   evermore   amount   of   crimson   on   her   hands.}  & ^{for   that,   she   holds   a   sense   of   concern.   the   horrors   of   a   cutthroat’s   blade,   whether   you’re   held   beneath   it   or   surrounded   by   anecdotes   of   it, ————  it   can   hold   a   grasp on   your   psyche.   their   innocence   has   been   ripped   from   under   them  //  gloom   building   a   house   within.}

^{there’s   a   sigh,   a   tightening   of   petals   following   when   her   own   thoughts   have   killed   the   night.  
       ❝  I   guess.   it   can   just   be  —  well,   it’s   scary,   you   know?   almost   being   killed   from   some                                          psycho   in   a   mask,  it   can   mess   with   your   head.  ❞}
&   ^{it   certainly   has,   fingers   lingering   above   her   scars.}

^{❝  emma,  ——  there   are   no   words,  ❞   soft   tones   fall   from   ruby   petals,   those   of   which   rest   in   a   slight   frown.   she   can’t   help   it  ;  allowing   sorrow   to   make   itself   at   home,   it’s   their   accustomed   lifestyle   by   now.}   &   ^{despite   act  ii   of   a   hunter’s   blade   having   been   put   to   rest  /  it’s   always   the following   ache   of   mangled   hearts   that   is   truly   harrowing.}

                      ^{❝  i’m   just   glad   you’re   okay.   that   we’re   okay.  ❞}
   &   ^{though   her   sentence   speaks   truth,   it   leaks   agony  —  for   the   very   fact  
                that   this   wasn’t   the   first   time   they’ve   had   this   conversation.}

—— finalgirled. 

ii.  ʰ⋅ ᵐᵉʸᵉʳˢ⋅        

_{WHEN  WILL  THEY  LEAVE  HER  ALONE?       it’s   a  question  she  continuously  asks  herself,          as  if  she  wasn’t  the  one  actively  seeking   out  the  drama.       she  couldn’t  help  it;       she  DESPISED   the  lakewood  six     &     all  their   unnecessary  attention.          she  didn’t  even  have  a  real  reason  to  hate  them  so  much;        yet  the  hatred  only  kept  GROWING.}  

  _{❛       GOOD  PLAN,      brooke-y.    staying  close  to  this  bunch  will  only  get  you  KILLED,     right?         she  had  it  coming.       ❜}

—————  &   SHOULD   THEY  ?   _{she’s   no   longer   one   to   delve   into   the   chaos  //  past   mannerisms   of   fiendish   doings   had   been   stripped   from   her   persona.   though   she’s   convinced   haley thrives   on   it.}  

_{there’s   detest   in   her   heart  /  fuel   in   her   bones.   it   could   grow   fires   with   one   remark,   if   she   made   an   attempt.   &   when   it   came   to   the   lakewood   six  —  she   found   it   strenuous   to   hold   back any   anger   she   might   have   towards   any   haters   that   crossed   their   path.   this   was   her   family,   &   though   they   may   be   damaged  —  they   are   iron,   for   they   stick   by   each   other’s   side.}

         _{❝  okay,   a.  try   not   calling   me   that.   and   b.  ——  you’re   messing   with   the   wrong   group,   haley.
                                         it’s   people   like   you   that   push   survivors   over   the   edge.  ❞  
(  don’t   push   emma   anymore,   i’m   convinced   she’s   barely   holding   on.  )}               

_{SHE   ROTS   of   scorned   auth  /  wretched   ichor   flows   through   slightly   vile   veins.   she   comes   off   (  as   vapid,  )   resting   under   a   cloud   of   nina   patterson’s   brutality.   though   one   may   ponder  ————  are   her   mannerisms   introduced   genuinely  ?   perhaps   a   facade   shielding   a   boiling   loathe.}

           _{❝  riles  ——  i’m   serious  !   i’m   literally   considering   not   inviting   nina   this   weekend.   if   she                                                 throws   up   in   my   room   one   more   time,   i’ll   kill   her.  ❞}

—— starslaught.

_{huffs   of   irritation  descend   from   ruby   lips  ;  though   it   lingers   in   her   aura.   the   girl   opposite   her   frame   comes   of   as   idiotic,  obnoxious   in   her   manner.   squinted   optics   glare   towards   her   domain.  
                                 (  what’s   a   peasant   to   a   god  ?  )}

                _{❝  —————  stay.   away.  haley  ;  attacking   emma   like   that  ?  what   is   wrong   with   you  ?  ❞}

—— leftoverfear.