restinglichface | Open rp post!

[Barry tenses up as soon as Lup's hand hits the locker next to him, her dark skin against the mint green metal impossible to miss, rings and bracelets and long, painted nails immediately catching his attention. His eyes widen under his thick glasses, cheeks getting hot as she speaks, her voice much closer to his ear than he'd anticipated.

She's right behind him. Barry trembles, white-knuckling the book he's pulling out of his locker, afraid to turn around. No one's ever this close to him unless they're beating him up or shoving him out of their way.

He can't tell if he likes or hates how it feels to have her right there behind him, pinning him in place.]

J-Just wanna get there in time. To. Organize. S-Some sheet music. [Mhm. Yep. Good excuse. He's still refusing to turn around, now slowly pulling things out of his locker and stuffing them into his bag, obviously stalling for time.]

[Too bad stalling never works with Lup.

Barry continues to refuse to turn her way, making the girl's expression twist into a scowl, irritation bubbling up within her chest immediately. Ugh, who does he think he is refusing to even look at her? Does he really think he's that much better than her with his expensive clothes and his loving mother and his happy home? Too important to even acknowledge her?

Not a chance.

The hand not pressed near his head gives a little tap on his shoulder, perfectly manicured nails brushing over his shirt.]

Helloooo, I'm talkin' to you, Barold. Least you could do is look at me.

[fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck--

This is bad. This is very bad. Barry can feel himself shaking, cheeks turning bright red, even the skin of his neck turning red under his bright white collar. His palms start getting sweaty. The prettiest girl in school - also the meanest girl in school - is going to make an absolute fool out of him in the hallway for everyone to see. It's like he can feel everyone's eyes on them, glancing over their shoulders, peeking behind their locker doors, staring at the two of them.

Barry doesn't know what to do. Should he keep ignoring her? Try to wrestle past her? Shoulder-check her and book it? In the end, he can't make bring himself to do any of those. Even though he's mad and hurt, he doesn't want to hurt her or make her more upset. All he can do, trembling and sweating and a little nauseous, is swallow, take a deep breath, hug his bag to his chest, and slowly shuffle on the spot until he's facing her.

He looks pathetic. But at least he's... making eye contact now? Sort of??]

Whaddya want...

There he is. [That scowl fades almost immediately, expression shifting to her usual predatory grin, showing off too much teeth, the girl leaning in closer as if they are friends just casually discussing homework.] Was starting to think you had a nasty zit or somethin' you didn't want me to see.

[But he just looks exactly the same as he did the day before, though maybe just a touch more red and shy, shuffling like he's afraid.

Part of Lup delights in that fear. She wants to pay him back for yesterday, to teach this kid a lesson he won't ever forget for making her feel all of these things she never agreed to. Barry asks what she wants and Lup's mouth falls open immediately, something scathing and cruel and meant to hurt right there on the tip of her tongue.]

Play hooky from glee and come hang with me.

[ - But that comes out instead.]

[Lup grins, and Barry's fears start to mount, rising in time with his beating heart. She's so close to him he can smell her shampoo, fruity and girly and so so sweet. He can see every little smudge of her makeup from a long day of school, every freckle dotted over her face, every crinkled line around her eyes as she grins like a cat about to eat the fat little mouse she just cornered.

He's convinced she's going to kick him in the groin and humiliate him in front of everyone. She's gonna punch him right in the gut, or cut him open with her cruel words, he's going to come home with bruises and toilet water in his hair again--

Except she asks him to skip club so he can hang out with her instead.]

Wh. What? [If Barry looked terrified before, he looks dumbfounded now.] Y-You wanna... hang out w-with me..?

That's what I said, isn't it?

[It may not have been what Lup meant to say, but now that it's out in the air between them and the other students lingering in the hall, she's going to roll with it as confidently as ever. She learned long ago that it doesn't matter how you act or what you do, as long as you make it look good.

And Lup knows just how good she looks.]

So? [The girl barely waits a beat before asking, free hand rising to flick her long hair over her shoulder, smile never leaving his face. She asks like it's really that easy, like all she has to do is ask him to hang for months of bullying to be forgiven.] That a yes or what?

[It's the strangest thing. Lup both looks and sounds genuine. Not like she's playing a trick on him or intends to humiliate him, but like she's actually propositioning him for an afternoon in her company.

Barry is struck by how badly he wants that.

But of course, his head is already stirring with possible reasons and consequences for following his roaring gut. Why would she ask him? What does she want? What would they even do? She doesn't even like him! Do they have anything at all in common? What would they even talk about?

Does any of that even matter? Lup wants to hang out with him. Barry is nervous.]

H-How... How do I know y'won't just... tie me to th'flag pole by th'football field? Or throw me in th'dumpster? O-Or lock me in th'janitor's closet, or hook me to th'wall by my underwear, o-or--

[Listen, Barry has about a decade's experience with bullies. He's seen most of it. None of it is nice.]

Well - [The young teen draws the word out with a casual roll of her shoulders, just enough movement to give a quick look around them, to the few students still lingering in the halls, the eyes that won't leave her back.

She's pretty damn stuck now. It's either pull out and look like an idiot or go full confidence and inspire the rest of the student body with her supreme awesomeness. Clearly, out of the two, there's really only one option to go with.

Lup looks back to Barry and smiles, still sharp but there's a touch of playful warmth in her expression. Usually she's all sharp and hard, so being able to see this touch of realness? It's a definite honor.]

Guess you'll just have to trust me, my guy.

Open rp post!

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