"Tragic news, everyone," Simone murmured, solemnly. "He ghosted me. Again. I swear someone needs to call the authorities because romance is missing."
Kendra snorted, scrolling on her laptop. "Maybe you should stop talking to every guy who looks in your direction.
Simone gasped, clutching his chest. "For your information, Kendra, he had potential."
"Potential to what?" Maya chimed in. "To start a pyramid scheme? That man looked like he sold healing rocks to make rent."
"So?" Simone lifted a hand. "He had vibes. And very nice cheekbones… And trauma… But… That's charming!"
"You really do have a type," Elaine chuckled softly from her tablet.
Simone whipped around to face her, squinting. "You act like that's illegal."
Eleanore chuckled from where she sat on the floor, surrounded by fabric she was stitching together. "Maybe you just need someone grounded," she said, absent-mindedly. "You know… Like the ones around Elaine-"
Eleanore froze, and Elaine stopped mid-drink of her Sprite, squinting at Eleanore. "...The ones around who?"
"Oh, I HEARD that." Simone immediately perked up, turning to Elaine. "I definitely heard that."
Maya set her phone down, grinning. "She said exactly what we think she said."
Elaine slowly set her glass down on the side table, shaking her head. "She said nothing. She's delusional from inhaling glue fumes."
Eleanore stared up from her project like a deer in headlights, giving a nervous laugh. "I just meant like the people around her in general! Friends, coworkers, collaborators… classmates…"
Simone looked between the two before grinning, "Oh, she is lying! Give me the details! Who is this mystery man?"
"Nope," Elaine shook her head, "We're done. No dives, no gossip, and no fanfiction of my life." She shot Simone a look as she said the last part.
Kendra looked up from her screen, grinning. "Oh? Then what exactly was that livestream I saw with Luca Hunt?"
"Oh, yeah!" Maya grinned. "Tell us exactly what you two were doing at that studio."
"We were working on stuff."
"Working on what?" Maya leaned forward, "Each other?"
"Maya!" Eleanore gasped.
"Nope." Elaine shook her head, "You're done. No more questions."
"No," Simone whined. "I need gossip to survive!"
Elaine groaned, standing to wander to the kitchen. I need coffee… Or something stronger. She groaned, grabbing her coffee mug, listening to the banter behind her; however, when she turned around, Julian was leaning in the entryway.
"So… you're not seeing anyone, right?" He asked, quietly.
"No?" Elaine blinked, holding her cup in both hands. "I mean, I'm working with people, but nothing like what they were talking about… Why?"
Julian tilted his head back, then stepped out of the way. "I was just curious… Anyway, I have an assignment I need to focus on, so… See you later."
He grabbed his jacket and left through the door, leaving everyone staring after him.
"Uh… What was that about?" Maya asked.
"Nothing," Elaine shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee as she sat back down on the couch. "He's just busy."
Eleanore and Kendra both exchanged a look before shrugging it off. Simone swayed his hand, "His loss."
Maya snorted, scrolling through her phone. Eventually perking up, "Okay, but real talk. Halloween is coming up, and it needs to be our holiday this year."
Kendra nodded in agreement. "No angels, no half-assed costumes that resemble witches."
Eleanore bobbed her head, scribbling in her journal. Eventually, she jumped up to her feet, "I GOT IT!" She squealed, "Group costume, we'll do a medical theme! Freaky hospital."
"As long as mine sparkles, I am your loyal servant," Simone cooed.
"You'd wear a chandelier if it matched your eyeliner," Kendra pointed out.
"And what about it?" Simone inquired.
Eleanore and Elaine both snorted. Eleanore pointed her pencil at Simone. "Glam nurse, sequins and fishnets, the whole works," she beamed. "Kendra… Deranged surgeon, blood splatter, but in an artistic way."
"Sounds fun!" Kendra grinned.
"Wait, wait, let me call Sam and Isa," Simone grinned, dialing the two and putting his phone on speaker.
"Hello?" Samantha answered.
"Sam!" Simone beamed, "We're planning Halloween. Is Isabel there?"
"I have plans already," Isabel answered flatly.
"Okay, fine," Simone said dramatically, "But Eleanore has the outfit concept for you, Sam."
"I'm listening."
Eleanore grinned, "Okay, okay. Psych ward patient, butmake it couture."
There was silence before Samantha chuckled, "Alright, I have something in mind. I gotta go though! I'll see you tomorrow, Simone!"
"Bye!" Simone grinned, the call hanging up as Eleanore plopped down on the couch. "Maya, you'll be an EMT, make it chaotic but glamorous." She grinned, turning to Elaine, "And you… Let's see, unhinged nurse. And I will be head surgeon!"
"You're enjoying this way too much." Elaine chuckled.
Before Eleanore could delve into her next tangent, there was a knock on the door. Elaine groaned, looking toward the door before going toward it, "If that's another box full of fabric, I'm banning you from the internet, Nora."
She opened the door, but there was only a white envelope lying on their doormat. She paused, then picked it up.
Slipping back inside, then opened it, unfolding the note inside. "'You looked gorgeous today, as always.' …That's… Weird."
"Ooh?" Maya grinned as Elaine tossed it onto the counter, "Secret admirer?"
"More like Simone trying to be mysterious," Elaine murmured, picking her coffee up.
Simone scoffed, offended. "I would never use stationery that boring."
Elaine rolled her eyes, collecting her belongings. "I'm going to go work on a project, have fun." She waved, walking to her room.
She settled down onto her bed, opening her notebook to stare at some lyrics she had half-written during class. Before she could begin another line, her phone buzzed with a text from Luca.
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Hey, you up?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
Depends. Who's asking?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
The guy who's still chained to the studio.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
What's up?
╰────────────╯
A FaceTime request popped up instead of a text. She groaned dramatically, shuffling her pillows before answering.
Luca appeared on the screen, in the studio lit by color-changing LEDs. "Well, you look exhausted."
"And you look like you haven't seen sunlight in seventy-two hours," Elaine chuckled.
He shook his head, giving a faint laugh. "Fair enough. What're you working on?"
"Trying to make words cooperate. You?" Elaine lifted her journal to the camera before tossing it back onto the bed.
"Fixing harmonies," Luca sighed, leaning back in his chair. "And trying not to lose my mind. You know, normal stuff."
She chuckled slightly, nodding. "Yeah, sounds about right. We were talking about Halloween earlier. Eleanore has a whole plan."
"Oh yeah?" Luca tilted his head, "What's the theme?"
"Hospital horror," Elaine snorted, "She practically assigned roles like a dictator."
"Fitting." Luca snorted, shaking his head. "Lucian's doing some plague doctor thing… Which could actually match."
"He's what?"
"Oh yeah," Luca chuckled. "Masks, outfits, everything. He found some masks that light up that he's custom-ordered with our signature colors."
He stretched out, still holding his phone. "By the way, Black Diamond's doing a Halloween celebrity night. Anyone attending is allowed to perform if they want… You going?"
"Probably," Elaine groaned, "Eleanore won't let me not go, but at the same time I can't get the entire group into a club like that."
Luca tilted his head back, staring at what she could only presume was the ceiling. "Depending on how many people are in your group, I'm sure we could add them to our guest lists. It's not like we're bringing anyone with us."
Elaine blinked, her brows furrowing. "You're serious?"
"You doubt me?"
"Constantly," she teased.
"Good." He snorted, cracking a small smirk that was hidden when he tilted his face out of view, "Someone has to keep me humble."
Before she could reply, familiar voices echoed behind him.
"Yo, is that Elaine?" Casen's voice beamed, "Lemme talk to her!"
He suddenly snatched Luca's phone, grinning. "ELAINE! HI!"
"Sorry," Rylan groaned from behind him, peaking over his shoulder with an apologetic expression. "He's been vibrating since we finished the last track."
"Oh, I can tell," Elaine laughed.
"Come out with us Saturday!" Casen bounced around, grinning. "We're going out to get food and hit the arcade! It'll be fun!"
"If I say yes, will you give Luca his phone back?"
Casen paused, blinking at her, then looked offscreen, nodding. "Yes!"
"Fine," Elaine snorted. "Yes, I will go with you on Saturday."
Casen whooped, shoving Luca's phone into his hands. Luca glanced between the two, muttering something that sounded like "children" under his breath. "I'm sorry about them."
"Don't apologize," Elaine chuckled, "They make you smile."
Luca paused, squinting at her, then tilted his head to the side, spinning his chair, "Sometimes… Anyway, goodnight… Elaine."
"Goodnight, Luca," Elaine smiled, shaking her head, "Night, Casen! Night, Rylan!"
"GOODNI-"
Luca ended the call before they could finish, and Elaine leaned back, laughing under her breath. Another day out with the members of Premise was set. This time with the more chaotic of the five. I wonder how Saturday will go.