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[kaiaxmay-blog]

Kaia had thought she had looked lost wandering around, trying to find her way around the Hamptons but even more so trying to find something to do with herself that was not..wondering what she was doing here and pondering about this entire way to spend her summer. Seeing Eric Van der Woodsen stare at his phone though made her realize that she, despite being there for the first time, was not half as lost as he seemed to be. His words made it very clear why though. Grocery Shopping wasnt something she even thought he knew was a thing. Or something he’d ever do.

“Or you could just put your phone away for a moment and ask someone for the way. That might be much more efficent!” Kaia couldnt help but smile at the words she spoke to him, not at all meaning to be rude, the opposite, she really wanted to be helpful. “I think I saw a little store earlier though, it looked like it had quite a good range of fresh products..depending on what you are looking for?” The brunette really wanted to ask why he was shopping himself, but she decided not to, instead focusing on remembering where exactly the store she had seen had been.

Eric was staring at his phone with the maps app open, though he hadn’t actually typed in any location just yet. He’d woken up with what he thought was a great plan: a big dinner for all of his family members currently at the Hamptons, and he’d decided that it’d be the perfect excuse to show off his cooking (and a distraction from any thoughts that had to do with Kenzie). True to all Upper East Siders, however, he’d never actually gone grocery shopping before, so he was more than a little clueless on how to find the right store.

“Do you think I can just.. type grocery store and it’ll find what I need?” he said, his eyes still glued to the screen but feeling that someone was near him. “Or is Apple not that advanced just yet?”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

At some point during the night Kaia had lost Theo in the crowd. He had been her safety blanket during most of the evening, knowing that he was there and actually made her feel somewhat like she belonged somewhere there at least. It had been because of his great ways of persuading her and the stupid hopes of eventually seeing a certain someone that she had even agreed to come to this party, come to the Hamptons. Usually she would have never allowed Theo to buy her a dress for the night, nor would she have agreed to bring herself into a crowd like this.

She had spent years avoiding situations that could have potentially been causing problems. She had always stayed out of it all, not wanting to be involved in the grande, constant drama and ususally she was very good at it. Would it not have been for meeting Nate she perhaps would still be not at all think about stepping further into a world that was so far from her own. She’d been friends with Theo for years already, but that had never lead to her actually going to an event like that, not if it wasnt to earn money and serve drinks.

Earlier that evening, during one of the million talks she had with her friends about this world, about her refusal to be part of this world and how she’d have to make a choice at some point and she had admitted, which was rare, that everything about it scared her. Knowing stories of people like Jennifer Humphrey, there was nothing exactly appealing about entering the Elite, no matter the allure of the glitz and the glamour around it.

How exactly she had ended up actualy mingeling with a group of people and actually enjoying herself was unknown to her, but she had actually forgotten it all until she felt fingernails digging into her bare ellbow.

Blair Waldorf, of course, why did she think she could avoid the brunette forever?

It was ironic how almost in the same moment that Blair spoke a waiter passed them by, allowing Kaia to take a glass off of the tray, mostly to keep her hands busy to not strangle the woman in front of her which would perhaps be her dream scenario at the moment. No matter if the Upper East Side Queen would approve or not, Kaia smiled softly at the girl carrying th tray and thanked her, before she actually looked at the brunette.

“Thank you for your concern, I appreciate that, I really do. I am not working tonight though, so you dont have to worry about my employer not being happy!”

The slim brunette tried to sound calm, not just sound calm but be calm, but everyone knew how Blair Waldorf could be and Kaia had a feeling that the other woman was not at all in a mood to be kind to her. Kaia was not aware as to why Blair even knew her name, why she even bothered and for a split second she wondered if Nate had told her something, but then again..why would he? Would he really sabotage her like that?

COMPETITION.

event: summer’s nights welcome bash. time: 1:20 a.m. availability: @kaiaxmay

Blair sits in one of the unoccupied booths in the corner, one empty flute that was filled with a French 75 in front of her. Louis was supposed to call half-an-hour ago. But he hasn’t. She’s starting to feel that tingly feeling in her spine, the one that spreads all over her body and makes her feel warm, a light dizziness that makes it hard to balance. Tipsy.

Her eyes roam the party, again, but nothing has happened in the half an hour since she’s excused herself. These parties don’t hold the same thrill that they used to for her anymore. There’s something that feels off for her — she blames it on this impending wedding. Ever since Louis got down on one knee, ever since he offered up a yellow Harry Winston diamond, ever since he whisked her off to Monaco— she just hasn’t felt the same. Blair’s been waiting all night to feel that spark again. 

Events like these were the highlight of her summer—tradition, elegance, notoriety, schmoozing, elitism. But Blair feels empty as she makes her rounds around the club, greeting people who’s last names envy her own, laughing along to jokes she doesn’t find funny, accepting congratulations for an engagement she’s starting to not want— Blair lets out a soft, audible sigh and checks the time on her phone. 

1 AM.

Too early for her to leave. It’s undignified to make an exit before 2 A.M. when she has nowhere in the world to go. Blair hasn’t even sorted out living arrangements yet. Besides, she needs something to happen before she can go home. Blair needs to feel the spark, the thrill, the electricity, the excitement and then she knows she still belongs to this world. But that feeling is slipping away from her, like the silk fabrics she used to play with at her mother’s atelier - slipping through her fingers, falling, disappearing.

Hi, Louis. Just checking up on you, sweetheart. Miss you, B. xoxo

Blair presses send without a second thought and wishes she was drunk - well and truly in oblivion. But women like her aren’t afforded the luxury of drunken indulgence. They have to study the room like a hawk, present themselves as upstanding members of society. It’s what she’s always done—but the pressure is multiplied now that she represents the Grimaldi name in everything she does.

Her nails drum against the table in front of her, eyes critically scanning the crowd until—she narrows them, lips parting open in slight surprise before curling into a frown of distaste. What is she doing here. Blair thinks as she slides out of the booth and swiftly storms off into the direction of Kaia Presley: the bane of Blair’s existence.

In high school, she’d been in the year above Blair. She’d been unforgettable, unmemorable. A ghost that had walked the halls. Had never registered on Blair’s radar. Until. Blair pauses, sucking in a deep breathe as she stands ten feet away from her—girls like Kaia were not Hampton’s material.

Until— until Blair had secretly submitted her work into a poetry competition and the award had gone to Kaia instead. From that day on she had remembered Kaia’s name. She had made it her mission to uncover all the dirt on the girl who’d proven to be an academic threat that she had never noticed before. Blair pursed her lips as she watched her interact with the crowd. It was one thing to be a nobody who got a scholarship to Constance, whatever. It was another to get a scholarship to Colombia, whatever. But it was unacceptable to turn up unannounced, uninvited, to the Hampton’s.

Kaia wasn’t even in her uniform—white dress shirt, black slacks, black vest and bow-tie: the traditional uniform of a cater-waiter. No, instead she was dressed as if she belonged at this party. Blair could pick up the discount dress, the flat hair, the lack of any jewellery — but at the end of the day, Kaia did blend in. She was Old Hollywood glamour gorgeous, and for that Blair hated her. Among many other reasons.

“Kaia,” Blair said smoothly as she came closer, her fingers curling in around the crook of Kaia’s elbow and pushing her closer towards her. Her voice held warning as she spoke to her with a light, friendly smile. “Shouldn’t you be in uniform? I doubt your employers would want to see you mingling with the guests.”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

theo-collins:

“Love? You’ve got the wrong guy, darling. I’m as apathetic as they come, didn’t you know?” he tossed back, smiling his widest, most innocent smile. More distant than apathetic, but tomato, tomahto. “You’re never going to let me live that down! You’ll be there after my eulogy to say a few words about how helpless I was in math back in the 8th grade!” But who was he to complain? He’d be dead.

Theo pinned Kaia with a significant glance, as if to say if I’m so different, why is it such a problem? It pleased him to win the silent argument but he sat back without preening over the victory, sipping a his drink instead. More because one way or another, Kaia was going to have to reconcile the fact that she couldn’t live with a foot in two words forever: either she was going to give up Nate and the rest of their friendship so that she could stay secure in the life she knew, or she’d have to trust them enough to take a leap of faith. It didn’t work out too well for the people who tried to straddle the line for too long. “Don’t be so archaic, that’s why we’d have someone drive us back. But I’ll have you know that in half an hour I’d be perfectly fine to drive.”

Theo shrugged a shoulder, smiling in the face of her laughter. “I mean, I’ll tell you if you start acting like you’ve got a stick up your ass, but that’s mostly that’s up to you. As for a nice summer, that’s all but a given, you’ve just got to make the most out of being here.”

“No, but I’ll keep trying until you admit that you arent quite as apathetic as you pretend. Its a good cover though and dont worry, I wont tell anyone!” Kaia had known Theo for too long to believe the act of being completely apathetic and while she knew he was partially joking, she also knew him too well and vice versa, to believe everything they at times told each other. “I will hold your eulogy telling people about it, there wont be a need to tell them after!” The brunette quipped grinning before she added “but I am sure you’ll be glad if I do, who knows what secrets some other people would spill!”

The brunette knew that sooner or later she’d have to figure things out. Come to terms with what she wanted and what not and also with what was possible. She couldnt avoid this world forever nor did she want to spend forever pretending that everything was so terrible about it. DId she like everything about it? No, of course not, but she was mostly afraid of the power and the likes of certain people or otherwise she might have already moved things with Nate forward or gone to an event like this with Theo earlier. “See, I dont fit in, I wasnt even aware you had a driver who’d easily drive us back to the city. I do know that it takes a lot longer than 30 minutes for you to be allowed to drive again, that much is clear!”

“We both know that this world, your world, has changed people before and most of the time it wasnt for the best. They all either got destroyed or destroyed themselves, or so it seems. So please, tell me when to stop before I press on the red button of destruction myself, okay?”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

Kaia had not expected anyone to ask her a direct question, not if it was a question that didnt involve around the likes of ‘what are you doing here?’ or ‘who let you in’. When the person next to her spoke up and seemingly addressed her she looked over surprised. Especially since she had not seen Carter Baizen around in a while. They used to go to school together, same class even, but then it seemed that one day Carter had just vanished and from that point on Kaia had tried to not believe any gossip. It was mostly just that, gossip!

“Young for sure, a mouse? Thats up to the eye of the beholder I assume!” The brunette simply ignored the comment of the girl being ‘fresh meat’, anything else eventually leading to a discussion with the other person, although that might just be because Kaia herself felt exactly like that. Like fresh meat, just waiting for somebody to call her out on it or tear her apart.

With a drink in their hand, Carter sat at the bar, with their back against it as they watched the party go on. They couldn’t help but chuckle as they watched someone stumble over his own feet, grabbing a waiter and nearly spilling the poor man’s tray of canapes all over the floor. It was sad how people could not hold their liquor. Or whatever illegal substances they happened to imbue themselves with. Carter wondered if the kid knew that everyone with a nose for such things – and most people in this room had a nose for such things – could smell what he’d smoked from several feet away.

The party was disappointingly dull so far, especially by UES standards, and they glanced around, hoping for amusement. They spotted a few couples who looked destined to search for an empty room later, including one where one party was almost certainly already in a relationship – at least, he had come with someone else. There was another person who was clutching their purse so tightly that there was almost certainly something illegal in there. The usual fare, nothing particularly exciting.

And then he spotted a girl who looked positively terrified, and she looked as though she certainly couldn’t be any older than fourteen or fifteen. But perhaps they were exaggerating to amuse themselves. Either way, she definitely looked new. “Fresh meat,” they commented, lifting their chin to indicate her to the person next to them. “Unless you know who she is? Then please, tell me the details. She looks like a mouse to me, but appearances can be deceiving.”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

theo-collins:

“Cheeky little thing, aren’t you, Presley? While it’s very possible that I’ve been lied to a time or two, I don’t think the entirety of the Upper East Side is in on the joke,” Theo said, rolling his eyes but laughing nonetheless. Laughter was easy, laughter was more painless than getting deeply invested with any one person. Around Kaia it didn’t feel like ruse, though. 

“Three agonizing years now. I don’t know how I’ve made it this far…” Theo quipped, smirking at the girl beside him. “Alright, I get it. It’s never going to work out between you and Nate because dresses are expensive. Clearly we shouldn’t be friends either because I’m going to want to treat you often and again, dresses are expensive. Never mind the fact that I’m grown, I earned a fair amount of what’s in my account on my own and I have every right to spend money on whoever and whatever the hell I want to. Shall I take you back now? There won’t be traffic, we can be back in two and a half hours,” he remarked, not chastising, just… highlighting the fact that things weren’t liable to change.

“Okay, okay. You win,” Theo conceded, his hands up, palms out in the universal gesture of surrender. Listening to Kaia, he followed her gaze to the waitress struggling. “You’re more than welcome to, I’m not asking you to change who you are to fit in. Just know that it’s going to make you subject to a lot of attention that I don’t think you want. That’s the way most things work around here, pros and cons to everything.”

“Because you love me, its simple and because, if I may remind you, I saved your ass on this math test back in 8th grade!” Of course the math test was probably least of the reasons they were so close now, but at least it was the reason that got them talking which probably would not have happened other wise.

“Yes, you have earned your money and you know that I am forever impressed with your talent and the fact that you did not rely simply on your parents money, because that makes you different from everybody else here!” He was frustrating her, mostly because he had a point and she was right. Why was she here if she was so against everything? Why did she still see Nate if it was so terrible to eventually be part of this world? She was running out of arguments and only reached for her drink with a sigh, before she looked up at him with a half smile “You have been drinking already, you wont drive me anywhere tonight!” There was a part of Kaia that still wasnt sure why she had come to the Hamptons. Of course it was likely that she would have been there anyways, simply because that was where all the work was over the summer, but why she had gone with Theo, to this party..in a dress she could never afford? Maybe she hoped that once dressed like everybody she’d feel that way too and she was slowly starting to wonder if everybody felt like she was as much on the outside as she told herself that she was.

“I tend to win, yes!” The brunette stuck her tongue out at him for a moment when he surrendered, laughter bubbling up, for a moment completely carefree. “I know that you arent asking me to change, but what if I do? I dont wanna turn into someone I am not - and I dont want attention, I just want a nice summer, is that too much to ask?”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

evanderwoodsen:

“No, I didn’t…” he started, defending his actions for her until he realized she was joking. He smiled once she’d finished talking, but in the back of his mind he couldn’t help but think that getting roofied was actually something that he wouldn’t put past some of his friends, even if it was just to get even with someone. But Kaia hadn’t actually grown up around the same people Eric had, and even though she’d gotten to know the Upper East Siders through school, it was obvious that she didn’t exactly know what they could do at their worst. And that was probably for the best.

He shrugged, as if to dismiss her comment, and then shook his head. “Nonsense,” he replied, always polite although not necessarily lying. “Maybe it doesn’t feel like you, but you certainly fit in with the crowd here,” he went on, once again casting a glimpse at the rest of the club. He was avoiding someone, and even though he didn’t plan on spending the entire night on guard, a quick glimpse every now and then was unavoidable. “You just need to wear it like you own it,” he concluded with one last look at her dress before he took another sip of his drink before setting back on the counter. Then, as he remembered that they were not home in New York, he couldn’t resist asking about her presence at SL East. “But uh, if I may ask, what are you doing here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around the Hamptons before.”

The fact that he thought she was serious about the roofies only furthered her opinion on his crowd. People always seemed to be quite unpredictable and even after being beside them, watching them and studying their ways for the last few years there were things that Kaia was thankful for not know. Sometimes being on the outside might actually be an advantage, or so she told herself.

Eric was a kind person, which seemed rare around those parts actually not so rare as she had seemed to find out lately, after all she couldnt deny that she enjoyed herself around several members of Manhattans elite really. “Thank you, you do realize that you are being extremely kind, right?” The brunette asked the man in front of her, the smile on her face sincere. His words meant a lot, even though to wear a dress like that ‘like she owns it’ was rather hard, especially considering she technically could not own it. “I - I was most likely going to come here anyways, for work mainly, but a friend, I mean Theo asked me to come along, promised that the Hamptons would be fun, we will see if hes actually right about it I guess!” Taking a sip of her own drink again she looked back up at Eric. “For you its tradition I guess?”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

theo-collins:

“It’s implied, don’t you worry,” Theo quipped back, a full smile stretching across his lips. Life of the party and Mr. Charming were all well and good, but Theo and friend worked just as well. Especially in this friendship that he would’ve never expected but had come to appreciate with a wholeheartedness that was altogether unfamiliar. But then, the people in his world weren’t usually as genuine as Kaia either.

He shrugged as she bemoaned the cost of their impromptu shopping trip, understanding that it was difficult for her but not concerned on the part of his finances. “It’s not blowing money if it’s worth it, and seeing the look on Nate’s face when he finally shows up is definitely worth it.” With a chuckle and a shake of his head, Theo slung his arm over Kaia’s delicate shoulders, pressing a light kiss to the apple of her cheek. “Besides, what are friends for, right?” 

“Yes, yes, I know. I’ll hold on tight to this one time to keep me warm throughout the summer,” he deadpanned, taking a sip of his drink to hide the small smile that threatened. “Is it really as terrible as you thought it’d be? Be honest with me now.”

“Oh of course, its implied. What is it what they say ‘you hear what you wanna hear’ or something like that? Seems very fitting in this case!” The brunette would never get tired of teasing him. He was one of the people she was geniuenly close with and whom she very unexpectedly found herself sharing most of her life with even though their lifes were so different.

“You know me for how long now? And you still think I get dressed up just for a guy? Not to mention that this dress would just proof further why I am not convinced that him and I will ever lead anywhere. This is normal for you, or him, or guys like you two. For me, this is rent!” She knew he meant it in the sweetest way possible though and she let herself fall into his embrace, her own arms hugging him back tightly before whispering a hushed thank you.

“You better should, it wont come out again any time soon, better mark it in your calendar!” Kaia told him grinning before his question threw her a little off guard. Mostly because she did not really had an answer. Or at least none that satisfied her. “Its huge and...I cant help but want to tell that poor waitress over there that it’d be easier if she’d stop looking at the glasses on her tablet!”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

Kaia Presley’s Outfit at SL EAST’S SUMMER NIGHTS WELCOME BASH

[kaiaxmay-blog]

theo-collins:

“Well you certainly don’t get a moniker like mr. charming by being an asshole… often,” Theo tossed back with a chuckle as his friend settled in next to him, nodding a thanks as the bartender refilled his glass with the speedy competence that only New York brought. 

“You look lovely,” he commented, raising his glass to her in toast before taking a sip, considering the girl before him. She almost looked like she could belong here, to this kind of club with these kinds of people. His people. But alas, there was something off, maybe that haughtiness slid right off her instead of clinging to her like a second skin until she wore it as armor like most of the girls here. That was probably for the best though. 

“I’ll have you know, copious amounts of alcohol is fun. And the people who can’t hold their liquor are extremely entertaining for the rest of us,” Theo laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling with mirth. “But there will be much more exciting times on offer this summer, I solemnly swear.” 

“How would you know, I never heard a single person call you that!” Kaia replied grinning at him, though they both knew that she wasnt entirely serious. He was, at least from ‘his’ circle, one of the nicest and admittedly most charming people.

“It would be a shame if not considering how much money you blew on me today!” The words ‘thank you’ were hard for her to get out, especially on this subject. Part of her wanted to hate the dress, simply for its price tag, but then again, it was absolutley beautiful and of course she felt good in it. Who wouldnt? “You do know that this means a lot to me, right? Not the dress, I mean the dress too, but...you doing this, dragging me here I guess!”

At the words ‘the rest of us’ she rolled her eyes at him, but she knew what he meant. And he knew that he was one of the few people in this room he said that and did not say it to make her feel like she was on the outside, but actually considered her part of it, at least tonight. “I take your word for it and I mean..this is already pretty impressive, but I’ll only say and admit it once!”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

“Well arent you gracious, even letting me choose what I want to drink!” Kaia commented teasingly as she heard Theos words towards the bartender whom she thanked one time too much for the Vodka Soda he placed before her. Theo knew, or at least should know that while it was hard for her to accept it, she was thankful for him to drag her here, even though the fact and the heavy price tag that had come with it, a price tag he had kindly paid for her, made her cringe a lot. 

While the silk against her skin felt beautiful and exciting, it was mixed with guilt. She hated to rely on people and admittedly, that was exactly what she was doing right now. Without Theo she wouldnt be wearing a dress that costs more than a semesters rent, but a waiter uniform and would be serving drinks to..perhaps even Theo himself.

“Is that what the entire summer will be about, huh? Copious amounts of alcohol? Because you made it sound absolutely exciting when you told me to come!”

Theo leaned back against the bar, sipping at the dark liquor in his glass. While he usually preferred clear alcohol, vodkas and light rums, the Upper East Side had given him a proper education in scotch and sometimes it was good to go back to your roots. And that’s exactly where he was, wasn’t it? The flash of a golden blonde head, clusters of diamond encrusted girls already whispering and rakish man-children smoking cigars like Gatsby caricatures… oh yes, he was home.

Anticipation crawled down his spine – or that could’ve been the flask that he’d downed prior to arriving at SL East. You didn’t just show up to a welcome bash sober – and he shifted, scanning the crowds of gathering people. Princeton had been just fine, good, even.  Princeton had just enough distraction to keep him from crawling out of his skin while still managing not to flush his life or his grades. It’s was middling effort on his part, but all work and no play made Jack a dull boy after all. Now though, it was time to play.

Finishing off his glass with a tilt of his head, Theo flagged down the bartender, motioning for another and then pointing to the well-dressed body next to him. “And whatever my friend here wants. We’re here to start the summer off right and that means copious amounts of alcohol! As a matter of fact, just leave the bottle, I’m sure it’ll find its way into appreciative hands.”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

evanderwoodsen:

Eric liked Kaia. Blair would tell him it was useless to be her friend, but he and Blair differed greatly on their qualifications for usefulness of friends. She’d been in his grade at high school, and it had always been obvious that there was a certain drive to her to work passionately. It was a trait that not many people on the Upper East Side possessed: most simply didn’t need to be as hard-working and driven as Kaia in order to get ahead. He liked it.

With a slight chuckle, Eric raised his eyebrows and faced her, making sure he had his back to the group of girls from who the drink had originally come from. “Only when they come from girls travelling in packs. I’d prefer not to get roofied,” he joked, though when he smiled, his eyes didn’t follow the rest of his expression. Noticing her dress, he gave a quick nod and then spoke again. “You look nice tonight,” he said, just the slightest hint of surprise in his voice. And even though it was a genuine comment, there was an underlying layer to his words. Everyone here looked nice, that was part of the deal. For someone like Kaia, however, dresses this luxurious were not a weekly affair. Eric had never cared about someone’s background, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t notice it. “The dress suits you.”

“Oh, yes just pass on the drink and roofie me, now I was warned about a lot of things upon coming here, being drugged wasnt one of them though!” Kaia had always been quick witted and sharp, but it was rare that she was actually allowed to do so in Erics circle. Usually she was just the help at occasions like that, barely seen but absolutely not heard. It wasnt hard to see that Eric was not happy, nor really at the party with his head. Kaia had spend most of her time in high school watching people and in fact it did come very handy nowadays when it allowed her to often maneuver situations much more prepared. While she knew Eric, she did not know him well enough to actually ask him about it. Instead she chose to ignore it and smile at his ‘compliment’.

“The dress fits, I would not necessarily say that it suits me!” The bruentte answered honestly, the dress feeling like a foregin layer that she did not know and wasnt sure she wanted to get used to, mostly because she knew she shouldnt get used to it. The amount of hours she’d have to work to afford even a piece of the dress..it wasnt something she wanted to really think about tonight and it was what made her reach for the drink he had passed along to her in a rather thirsty manner “You know, I do hope you’ll make sure those girls wont take advantage of me, now that they accidentally roofied me instead of you!”

[kaiaxmay-blog]

Why exactly had she thought coming to this party was a good idea again? Oh yes, Theo had been somewhat convincing at telling her it’d be a good opportunity and also that it would be fun. Fun wasnt what she’d call this though. She was so tempted to take a tablet off of an obviously struggeling waitress at some point that she had decided to ‘retreat’ to the bar, hoping that at least there she’d not stick out like a sore thumb.

Maybe Kaia did not actually stand out that much, but in between people who strutted around in their perfect outfits without actually thinking about how much food, books or how many months of rent they could pay with that money if they were in her shoes made it hard to feel like she belonged. No matter if Theo had insisted on buying her a dress for the event, mostly because there was no way she owned anything that could work for such an occasion, she still felt like people could probably smell her confusion about the situation.

It wasnt until a glass was placed in front of her and a mans hand was pointing at her that she looked up and actually shrugged out of her thoughts. She did recognise Eric, of course she did and she wasnt sure why she was surprised to see him. This was his scene, not hers. “Do you always give up free drinks so easily?”

Even though he could technically drink without breaking his sobriety, Eric was fully aware that it was frowned upon by nearly all medical professionals. Still, rum & coke without the rum was significantly less interesting than the real deal. He took another sip but then set the glass down on the bar with an annoyed sigh, the fact that he was ‘encouraged to stay sober’ just another constant reminder of his past. Especially these days, staying away from alcohol (and other temptations) had proven difficult.

It was still fairly early, but slowly the club started filling, and as the minutes passed it started to feel more like he was back in New York with familiar faces appearing around him, dressed to the nines and surrounded by that particular party vibe that almost felt like second nature. Eric knew he looked pathetic, standing alone at the bar with nothing but a non-alcoholic drink to occupy his time, but the only reason he was even here was out of sheer tradition: ever since he was sixteen he’d spent his first night at the Hamptons to celebrate. 

He kept his gaze on his glass until the barman put down another glass on the counter, pointing to a girl at the end of the bar, giggling with some friends while Eric looked at her. Yeah, not tonight, he thought as he scratched his temple and shook his head. “Oh, no thanks.” he said to the barman, speaking just loud enough to overpower the music blasting throughout the club, “I’m still good, thanks. You can pass it along,” he continued as he carelessly swatted his hand sideways to signal that whoever was next to him should get the drink. It was true, the Summer Nights party was a tradition he’d never miss, but this year he felt more like powering through it than celebrating the end of another school year. 

[kaiaxmay-blog]

‣  KAIA PRESLEY | SHE/HER | 21 | BROOKLYNITE | LILY COLLINS + intelligent,  hard working & passionate - stubborn, over-achieving & self-critical

“ she sees them walking in a straight line, that’s not really her style. and they all got the same heartbeat, but hers is falling behind.  “

‣  STORY

Kaia May Presley wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, the opposite, she was born to clean the silver spoons of the elite, or so it seemed. Money was something that was often talked about in her family, simply because it was always gone half way through the month no matter how hard her parents worked and how many shifts they took on. Early on in her young life Kaia had realized the power that came with money and seemingly the lack of such when you had none. Family time was a rare thing, most of her days were spend with her bother who did absolutely everything to make sure his little sister was content to the best of his abilities, but that didn’t mean that she missed her parents any less. It was hard to grasp that what they were doing and the fact that they rarely were home was for her and her brothers good, that all they did was trying to give them the best future possible - but once she understood it fully she could not have been more grateful for all her parents hard work and it made the occasional evenings spend together on the couch, watching a movie and eating some popcorn even more precious.

Early on it had become evident that young Kaia was clever, witty and most definitely more intelligent than other kids her age, which would soon on become a blessing and open doors for her that her parents, no matter how hard working, could have never opened themselves: a full scholarship to Constance Billard. Armed with a school uniform that cost more than most of her usual clothes and the reassurance that she was a bright young thing she was thrilled to be given such an opportunity, but also feeling anxiety about this new world she would soon encounter, a world that turned out to be even more glamorous than she could have imagined.      

While Kaia might optically could have easily been mistaken for one of ‚them‘ with the high cheekbones and beautiful auburn hair, the simple white blouse and the lack of Tiffany jewelry or designer boots easily gave her away as a scholarship student and if that wasnt it, it was the fact that she did not drive to school with a chauffeur, but the subway. The brunette spent a lot of time in high school watching her fellows mingle, the way they treated each other often times appalling with the schemes, the constant battle for power and authority and yet, there was always something appealing about their world. Maybe it was the effortlessness which seemed to follow them, the success that came often just because of their last names or the carefreeness with which they spent more money on their lunch than Kaia did in a whole month. Fitting into the world of the elite was anything but easy and Kaia soon realized she she could not allow herself to get lost in the world of Manhattans Elite, especially because she knew how easily this could ruin her and distract her from the actual goal: another scholarship and this time at Columbia University.

Throughout her time at Constance, the one thing that had actually threw her focus off for a moment had been her brother suddenly vanishing from her life. He had been such a constant in Kaia’s life. The one person who had always been there for her and actual always was there. He had moved out overnight, not even bothering to tell her that he was leaving after a fall out with her parents over the one predominant topic - money. What hurt perhaps the most, besides the fact that it was money, something everybody around her seemed to have more than enough of, was the reason for her bother to leave, was that she suddenly realized that the one thing she had always thought she had opposed to many others at her school, a happy and well functioning family, was torn apart.

Getting accepted into Columbia University with a scholarship for Political Science was a blessing, but one that came with a still heavy price tag and Kaia knew that she did not want to rely on her parents, but needed to find a way to support herself. Finding a catering company that quickly hired her seemed like a great choice at the beginning, but preparing plates for people she went to school with and using the service entrance while people her age and some she would even consider friends, or even lovers, where using the elevator and happily mingled out front was a lot harder than she thought it would be, especially now that her heart was slowly but steadily beating faster whenever she saw a certain honey-blond heartthrob named Archibald and the knowledge that him dating not only a scholarship holder, but a scholarship holding part-time kitchen help would not exactly be accepted by his upper east side peers.

‣  SIGNIFICANT CONNECTIONS

— NUMBER 08 [friends]: NR 17 helped NR 8 with a maths assignment once, and since then they have developed something that could only be called the most unexpected friendship of new york. what really solidified their friendship, though, was that NR 17 came to NR 08 when her brother had a falling out with his parents and decided not to return. it was hard on NR 17, but having someone other than her parents to comfort her helped her realize that just because things were sour with her brother right now, they wouldn’t always be that way. it build a trust between NR 17 and NR 08, and while she doesn’t agree to his lifestyle of partying and simply having ‘fun’, she knows she can count on him if she really needs him. — VANESSA ABRAMS [friends]: vanessa and NR 17 could always count on each other when the pressure from the upper east side became too much. they bonded over irritations from people at constance, but the difference between the two is that vanessa is more radical in her disdain manhattan’s elite. NR 17 knows of vanessa’s history with nate, which currently makes her friendship with the girl just a tad more complicated than it has previously been. — NATE ARCHIBALD [fling]: what started as a shameless one night stand has turned into much more, even though both nate and NR 17 have been keeping it on the down low until now. nate, however, has recently expressed his wish to become public, but NR 17 isn’t sure that’s such a great idea for them. she knows the opinion of most of nate’s former classmates on relationships with girls from the wrong part of the city, and she doesn’t want all of his upper east side friends to destroy what the two have built up.

[kaiaxmay-blog]

✆ ✉ ø %

Send “✆” for a MORNING text.

Text: Did you grab my book earlier at the coffee shop? You were at the table next to me?

Send “✉” for a text that WASN’T SENT.

Text: I just wanted to let you know that I think what you’ve been through and how well you manage things is..impressive. I mean I think you are really inspiring for lots of people in that way.

Send “ø” for a LATE NIGHT text.

Text: Thank you for not being an ass when I dropped that plate earlier, I know most people would have kicked me out of the service right at that moment.

Send “%” for a CURIOUS text.

Text: What made you go to Columbia? I mean, its not like you really need to go to uni..?

[kaiaxmay-blog]

rpmememaker:

Send “✆” for a MORNING text. Send “✉” for a text that WASN’T SENT. Send “☎” for a RUSHED text. Send “⁇” for a DRUNK text. Send “✿” for a SUGGESTIVE text. Send “ø” for a LATE NIGHT text. Send “✘” for a HATEFUL text. Send “#” for a RANDOM text. Send “@” for a SCARED text. Send “&” for a LOVING text. Send “%” for a CURIOUS text. Send “ツ” for an EXCITED text. Send “$” for an ACCIDENTAL text. Send “♀” for a HEARTBREAKING text.

[kaiaxmay-blog]

✧

send me a ✧ and i’ll bold all that apply to your muse.         

I would kill you.✧ I would physically hurt you.✧ I would attack you unprovoked.✧ I would manipulate you.✧ I dislike you.✧ You annoy me.✧ You scare me.✧ You intimidate me.✧ I hope I intimidate you.✧ I pity you.✧ You disgust me.✧ I hate you.✧ I’m indifferent toward you.✧ I’d like to get to know you better.✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you.✧  I’m unsure what to think of you.✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you.✧ You are my friend.✧ You are my best friend.✧ You are my mentor.✧ I look up to you.✧ I respect you.✧ You are my hero.✧ You inspire me.✧ You are my enemy.✧ You make me happy.✧ I want to protect you.✧ I would fight by your side.✧ I consider you an equal.✧ I think you are beneath me.✧ I think you are above me.✧ I would lie for you.✧ I would lie to you.✧ I would sleep with you.✧ I would sleep by your side.✧ I would hug you.✧ I would kiss you.✧ You are family to me.✧ I would die for you.✧ I would kill for you.✧ I would trust you with my life.✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging.✧ I would trust you with a secret.✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret.✧ I love you (platonically).✧ I love you (romantically).

[kaiaxmay-blog]

Just a couple of questions to get to know Kaia a little better, assembled from different Character Surveys.

How do they move and carry themselves? Pace, rhythm, gestures, energy? 

Kaia is a graceful person, who seems to always move with a certain sense of self and purpose. She never just strolls around, she much rather strides, her goals always clear in her head. She knows how to carry herself to charm the people around her, her voice never too loud nor too low, her gestures never too hectic but always underlining what she is talking about. It wasnt something she was taught by her parents, but something she learnt over years carefully studying people and the power their appearance and the way they carried themselves had over others.

How much physical space do they use, active and at rest?

Kaia keeps a bit of a distance between herself and others without really realizing it. It is probably a form of to protect herself a little bit. Once she starts trusting a person those invisible barriers are slowly disappearing though and with them the physical space she builds up between herself and others.

How do they position themselves in a group? Do they like to be the center of attention, or do they hang back at the edges of a crowd?

She hangs back at the edge of the crowd mostly which isnt much of a choice for her really.  Being amongst people of Manhattans Elite when you’re not an insider does not exactly leave much space to be in the center of attention, especially not when you are the one working for them instead of mingling alongside them. When she is with friends though she doesnt mind being in the center of attention, though she does not actively aim to be that.

What is their size and build? How does it influence how they use their body, if it does?

Kaia is a lithe and slim person. Her body is naturally on the petite side which makes her movements often look light and effortless.

How do they dress? What styles, colors, accessories do they favor?

Kaia style adapts to the situations, but overall she dresses very smart. Her figure allows her to pull of most styles effortlessly and while she often wears dresses and skirts it all comes down to what she can buy for little money that will still look good and not too cheap. In her free time away from university chances that you’ll see her in some kind of athletic gear is also possible since she does spend much of her free time, especially when she needs to clear her head jogging or running. Color wise she feels very comfortable in black and white as well as ethereal colors such as greens, nudes and tan colors. Her favorite accessory would have to be a red lip stick.

What is Kaia lying to herself about?

Kaia has always told herself that she doesnt mind her working-class background, that she is proud of what she has achieved and that working besides college makes for even better and more realistic college experience. Truthfully though she does envy the easiness of the lives of the people surrounding her and she wouldn’t mind sitting in on one of their elaborate dinners instead of hiding in the kitchen and praying that none of them would actually see her.

How does she decide she can trust someone?

Trusting people does not come easy for Kaia. Not at all. Especially not when it comes to trusting people from the Upper East Side. She doesnt necessary decide to trust someone, trusting is a process that comes slowly but once she does trust someone, she does so without any hesitation, or she at least tries to.

What parts of loving comes easy to her ?  Hard?

Love is never easy is it? Neither is loving someone. Kaia fears to be hurt and love and hurt often comes hand in hand which makes love a scary thing when thinking about it for too long. The hardest part about loving someone for Kaia is probably the thought of letting somebody into her life like that, for two reasons. Firstly she is scared to be distracted from her goals, that she could loose sight of what she wants to be and who she wants to be and secondly it isnt easy for her to completely let somebody in ever since her brother had disappeared on her like that. The thought of being left again is absolutely terrifying her.

When she walk into a room what does she notice first?

Kaia spent so much time in her life watching people and analyzing them that its hard to say what she notices first. Oddly enough though it might be their clothes. The uniforms that show their social status or which status they might want to have. It is something that school at Constance has taught her and it is something she often notices first when she enters a room, mostly to see wether or not there was a chance to fit in.

What are Kaia’s goals in life?

She is very career driven and wants to make it politics. The big picture for her is not being a politician herself, but she does want to work for one eventually. Kaia would love to work in Public Relations or as a Personal Assistant, not in the sense of making coffee and cleaning suits but to actually help someone make a change.

What is she most afraid of?

Being alone and unsuccessful. Those two things are by far her biggest fears.

What’s her greatest source of frustration?

Failing. Feeling like she failed at something is the thing that leads to the most frustrated version of herself. She can beat herself up endlessly whenever she feels like she’d no been good enough and not successful enough at something.