as it turns out, harlow is not so good at roller skating. of course, this didn't come as news to her or her older brother. as a child, harlow had never been on any sports teams or the like, she would've classified herself as the music nerd if anything. honor band and musicals were much more her speed.

in comparison to her new friends, harlow definitely wasn't the worst at roller skating, though. sam and colby were extremely wobbly, and jake had been on his ass more times than he was on his skates.

of course, this wasn't just a casual hangout, because elton was with them. normal people would skate around the rink and just have simple fun. elton preferred competitions so that he could show off and harlow could make a fool of herself.

currently, kat, devyn, xepher, tara and harlow were sat on a bench watching elton and a few of the guys make an obstacle course. elton had told them that not only were they going to do this obstacle course, but they were going to do it blindfolded.

the girls were talking about planning a girls night out, but harlow couldn't pay attention to the conversation. her eyes were set on colby, watching him listen to elton as he instructed him to move different blocks.

"earth to harlow," devyn laughed, waving her hand in front of the girl's face.

embarrassed, harlow turned her attention back to the girls. "sorry, i was trying to uh, memorize the course."

"the obstacle course or tonight's course?" kat joked, leaning into xepher while she laughed.

"very funny, katrina." harlow shot back. due to her embarrassment towards getting caught blatantly staring at colby, harlow began to crave a cigarette. "you know what, i'll be back in a few. i'm just going to go get some air,"

harlow found a bench outside the back of the building, sat down, and lit her smoke. she sat on the bench, slowing burning through her first cigarette of the night. knowing the amount of detail elton puts into things, harlow decided she still had some time before he would ask where she was.

🥵🥵

HARLEY QUINN 😈, EBENEEZER

SCROOGE 🤠, AVA BABYY 🤪💖,

THE REAL JADA SMITH!,

AND MATTY B RAPS 🎤🥴✨

😈

update on my night:

i've been deemed the smoking BUDDY

we have been FRIEND ZONED

and i haven't even known him a week

wait that's a good thing!!

😈

wot

🤪💖

yeah wot

well u have to build a friendship first

unless u want a simple dick appointment

🎤🥴✨

for once

jada might b right

shut it

ok but seriously

smoking is probs ur common ground

lure him 2 ur pussy w clouds of smoke

😈

i'm suddenly questioning ur advice

it was going so well

🤠

my eyes r on fire

this is a family-friendly christian server ma'am

pussy

pussy

pussy

pussy

🤠

suddenly i am blind

i can no longer see

🤪💖

😈

once again

i h8 u all

harlow looked at the pack of smokes in her hand, debating whether or not her lungs could handle one more. fuck it, she thought. she began pulling out one more when a voice spoke from behind her.

"i thought i made it pretty clear that we were smoking buddies," colby joked, moving to sit beside her on the bench.

harlow tensed at the proximity between the two. she looked at the unlit smoke she held between her fingers. "well, i didn't think you'd want me to call you over in front of my brother," harlow held the smoke between her lips now, pausing to light the cigarette. "assuming he still thinks you quit,"

harlow passed her lighter to colby, who already held his smoke between his lips. "i'll tell him eventually,"

"not to be rude, but i don't think he'd care too much," harlow stated. "i mean i'm his little sister and he knows i smoke," colby laughed, the sound sending vibrations up harlow's body. she loved his laugh, even if she had only heard it a few times. ignoring the feeling, harlow asked a question to fill the silence, "how's the obstacle course looking? will i be losing one or two limbs tonight?"

colby laughed again, making harlow smile. "i snuck out before they finished it," colby admitted. "but knowing elton, i'd say probably three."

the conversation then led to her brother for the next few minutes. harlow told colby of the time elton got his head stuck in between the railings of the fence in their backyard. elton and harlow had watched their dog stick her head between the posts several times, and elton, being elton, wanted to try it too. of course, his head is much larger than a dog's, and he ended up getting stuck between the posts. harlow and elton had to wait for a good hour before their father came home from work to cut the post so elton could free himself.

the entire time harlow retold one of elton's most embarrassing childhood stories, the blue-eyed boy beside her laughed. harlow couldn't stop smiling and giggling at colby's reaction while she told her favorite parts of the story.

and while harlow did this, colby couldn't help but admire the girl that sat beside him. he watched the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled really big. he listened to the child-like giggle while she talked about elton crying and whining about being stuck. there was no denying that the girl was beautiful. but, of course, there was one problem. harlow was elton's sister, and elton was one of colby's best friends.

and because of this, colby pushed the thoughts out of his head and continued to listen to the brown-haired girl talk about growing up with elton.

the two sat on the bench outside of the building for a good half hour, chatting about experiences growing up. harlow told colby all about her university experience, and how it wasn't exactly living up to how it was portrayed in the movies. she told colby about her goals and all about what she wants to do with her degree once she finishes university.

the two were able to bond over their experiences in band. colby even showed harlow a picture of him and sam in their band uniforms, making harlow laugh. colby told harlow about what it was like growing up being "the weird vine kids", and how many people since then have tried to ride his tail. he told her about moving to la, and the time he and sam took a couch from the dumpster because they couldn't easily afford furniture.

eventually, their friends inside began to question where the two could have gone. kat came looking for the two, telling the pair that it was their turn to race. kat watched as colby walked inside, then looked at her friend and wiggled her eyebrows. "y'know, i heard a lot of laughing from inside,"

harlow swatted at her friend, "eavesdropping isn't very ladylike kat," harlow stuffed her lighter and pack of smokes into her purse, flipped off her friend, then went inside preparing herself for elton's shenanigans.

although harlow didn't want to necessarily be the "smoking buddy", she had to admit that jada, in a twisted sense, was right. not that harlow wanted anything out of colby. but she couldn't deny that she was attracted to him, and being his "smoking buddy" was a good excuse to continue to be around him.