ginger and gangly {jacob}

[CLEO EVERETT]

If there was one thing Cleo Everett hated, it was being a third wheel. Well, that was very low on her list of things she hated, but it was still on the list. It was probably hardly intentional, and the two of them probably hadn’t even noticed, but Cleo was very sure that there was something going on between Jason and Sophie. And Cleo had no intentions of ruining that. She wouldn’t have minded sitting there, quietly squealing over how precious they were, but she figured that was much too creepy. So, she had politely excused herself and left the two of them alone.

Now, she was wandering around rather awkwardly, searching for people she knew. It wasn’t like anybody else had super hair like Cleo did. It wasn’t like she could spot them across the room. Which kind of sucked. Once she had grown tired of trying to find friends, Cleo decided she’d very much like to try some sweets. She was sure the refreshments table couldn’t be all sandwiches and chips and drinks. Of course, they had desserts. Lovely gorgeous desserts that looked too pretty to eat. How she hadn’t gone straight for the pastries the moment she had arrived was a surprise, even to her. Still, it didn’t matter much now, because she was trying a particularly pretty one. And it tasted as amazing as it looked.

She had barely had time to try another dessert when she glanced in the direction of the entrance and saw her very best friend. Some people might think her crazy. How could she even tell, since everybody was wearing masks? Well, she would tell them very haughtily, I would recognize Jacob in a crowd of thousands, so there. Abandoning the refreshments table, any and all desserts completely out of mind, Cleo quickly made her way towards Jacob. It was as of the other attendees knew she was hurrying, for they moved out of her way to avoid being crashed into.

“Jaybird!

” She called, assuming that she was close enough for him to hear her. She didn’t want to shout, didn’t want other people stealing the nickname, didn’t want to draw too much attention. (This was Cleo Everett, though, and most things she did were all about too much attention). Cleo launched herself at him, much like she had that time he came over with gummy worms, when it had been all awkward with her roommates there (that seemed like so long ago). “It’s about time you got here. I’ve been waiting forever.[/color]” Except not really, but this was Cleo Everett, and she had a tendency to exaggerate.

Cleo pulled back and looked him over, grinning a bit. “Well, don’t you look… dashing.[/color]”

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outfit & hairstyle
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[JACOB HARLOW]

Normally Jacob would not have gone to one of these, not on his own free will. In fact, he hadn’t gone to any of the dances when he was in school, and he rarely went to clubs. On occasion, he would go to bars or a club with a live band. But he was not terribly fond of social gatherings that required fancy dress. Even as he got ready for this one he hadn’t actually gotten too fancy with it. Just a pair of black jeans that were nice enough to pass as slacks and a white suit jacket with sleeves that cut off around his forearm set over a nice black shirt. A white studded belt tied it together, according to Kayden, and he was in no way shape or form wearing dress shoes. This meant he was dragged to the mall by his adoptive older sister to get solid black converse, as well as a mask.

He didn’t even see the point in the mask; anyone that knew him should obviously be able to spot him. He was on the taller side, lanky and walked with a slouch. His cheekbones could cut glass, and his jaw was a sharp square. There always seemed to be a slight shadow on his face, just enough scruff that he looked almost disheveled, and the usual untidiness of his hair helped the fact. He had utterly resisted the offer for Kayden to organize his hair—she hadn’t tried. She had no idea that his hair would take gallons of any sort of product to lie still for at least half an hour. Even then, he had a habit of running his hands through his hair which would simply not do if he was expecting it to stay organized.

On his way to the Masquerade, there was one little detail that was entirely his. A single pink azalea with a stem just long enough to slide into someone’s hair, and a small, plastic bag filled with a few gummy worms. He didn’t expect his “date” to carry a bag of gummy worms, just a few for her to pop into her mouth. In his car, he kept the rest of them, should he need to give her a ride home.

And who was the wily vixen that had managed to drag the non-dance-goer to a city-wide event such as this?

Why it was none-other than Cleo Everett. Who was rushing straight for him at that moment. He hardly had gotten into the room when he saw the fiery haired girl rushing right for him. In any room, Jacob could easily pick out her red hair; and it wasn’t just red. It was orange, alive and bright. Even in a room full of redheads, his Fishgirl would stand out like a beacon. Then again, he just knew when she was around. The way her large eyes would always find him or the way her face seemed to come alive with a single smile. Even with the mask on, and the rather…sensuous outfit she had on—he knew that it was her.

And he was ready.

He steadied himself, and held his arms out and let them envelop her as she flung herself at him. Even still, he wobbled a bit, but height was on his side as he managed to stay upright. “Well, I’m sorry. But I had to make a detour.” He shrugged, and held the flower and gummy worms up to her face, before carefully reaching in and tucking the pink flower into the delicately woven twists in her hair. “You look gorgeous.”

Cue an uncomfortable flush in his face. “Hardly dashing—this was Kayden’s idea. No way in hell was I gonna wear the cumber bun and slacks, and the shoes—that’s allllll for you ladies.” He returned the grin, before issuing a sloppy—albeit dorky bow before extending his large hand. “May I have this dance, Princess Fishgirl?”

--
OUTFIT

[CLEO EVERETT]

The fact that he was ready to catch her made everything somehow better. She couldn’t explain it. It was just that she was here dressed all prettily with her Jaybird, and though she’d teased him, she couldn’t help but be appreciative that he’d went out and got new shoes. She thought he looked totally great, but then again, she always thought that. Laughing into his shoulder, Cleo held him tighter for a moment before letting go and stepping back. A detour. He was late because he’d made a detour? What did that even m—oh. Azaleas had always been her favorite flowers. The colors and the shape and how it only sometimes had a scent. Reaching up to carefully touch the flower once Jacob had put it into her hair, she smiled up at him. “Oh, it’s lovely. Thank you!

”

And somehow, she’d not noticed the gummy worms. How had she not--? Something must have been wrong with her. Smiling even more, she reached out and took them, not even waiting a second to happily chew on one. It was obvious now what had been missing at the refreshments table. Whoever was holding this event clearly didn’t have the sweet tooth dominant people in mind. Cleo blushed a little, thinking it was almost strange, because compliments never really made her go red in the face. “This night just got a million times better.[/color]” Azaleas and gummy worms and Jacob. Everything was perfect and she honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it just got better from here on out.

Kayden! Was she here tonight? Cleo had been so distracted by everything else; she hadn’t even thought to phone her. Kayden’s hair had always stood out to Cleo somehow, but now that there were curly blonde haired girls everywhere, it was hard to tell. “Was Kayden coming tonight?[/color]” Cleo asked, making a mental note to call her later – after she danced with her Jaybird. Cleo curtsied in response, pretending to hold out the skirt of a dress, had hers not been so fitting. “Yes, please![/color]” She grabbed his hand, entwining her fingers with his, and started to pull him to the dance floor. Cleo had been impatient most of the night, who was to say she’d stop now?

“You know,[/color]” she started, hanging back to walk beside him. “I think you might be the best looking guy here.[/color]” It was actually kind of weird, thinking how she used to be such a flirt. She had eyes only for Jacob tonight, and she was okay with that. She was really very pleased with it, and she would be happy if the rest of her life went on like this. The one tiny frustrating thing about it, really, was her stupid little goldfish. Fish Cleo hadn’t been very chatty the last couple of weeks but Cleo could tell just how much she disliked Jacob, and it drove her up the wall. (Because, really, how could anybody dislike Jacob? She didn’t get it.) She’d been doing a very good job of ignoring it, at least.

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