“There will be no peaceful revolution!” Dakota screams, flicking the paint brush again. She had to get special permission from the owners to do this, but after a little begging and pleading, they gave in.

“Middle fingers up if you don’t give a fuck! I’’m sick to death of swallowing everything single thing I’m fed!”

The white paint splatters artfully against the gray part of the wall meant to be sky and she grins, still chanting along with Oli Sykes.

She bends down to exchange the smaller brush for a thicker one, this time dipped in a dark green for the grass. She’s about to flick the brush again when two hands wrap around her waist, startling her.

Alan.

She smiles as he presses his lips to hers. The two had been seeing each other for the past three weeks. They were basically dating, just without being ‘official’.

She leans back, giggling as she takes in his appearance. “You’ve got a little..” She trails off, eyeing all the paint he had gotten on his shirt.

He glances down and shrugs, still grinning. “It was worth it.” He leans towards her for another kiss when Cole barges in, bags of food in hand.

He pauses at the two so close together, but pretends not to see, opting to just set the Dunkin Doughnuts on the kitchen counter.

Cole eyes the wall she’s painting and nods in approval. “Nice work, Sunshine. I might just let you start tattooing soon.” Her eyes light up at the prospect and she flees to his side, all thoughts of Alan forgotten.

“Really?” He nods, unwrapping a muffin from one of the bags. Her smile widens and she jumps up and down back to Alan. “You hear that? I might start soon!” He laughs at her eagerness before questioning, “I’ll be your first customer, too.” Her grin fades and his does too, confused.

“Why do you look so sad about that?” She purses her lips, shaking her head. “What if I screw up your tat?” He sighs happily, amused by her worrying.

“You won’t mess up.” He assures, going to grab a biscuit before Cole eats them all. They sit at the counter together and share a biscuit, issuing a slightly disgusted look from Cole.

“What?” He shakes his head, swallowing a bit of muffin.
“You two are so adorable it’s almost sickening.” Dakota pauses, setting her share of the breakfast on the counter. “I’m sure you and Ashley are just as cute. By the way, when do I get to meet the mysterious Ashley?” He rolls his shoulders back, mentally calculating.

“A month or so? She’s on a tour right now.” Dakota perks up at the word. “Tour?” He nods, gently smiling at the thought of his three year girlfriend. “Yeah, she’s on a book tour. She’s an author.”

Alan smiles coyly at Cole’s mushiness, nudging his shoulder. Dakota reacts a bit differently.

“Aw! Big tough Cole is in love!” He blushes profusely and she cooes harder. “So adorable! I think we need some music for this.” She jumps from the stool and runs off to her phone that was wirelessly hooked up to speakers throughout the apartment, changing songs. The two men groan playfully at her need to always have music playing.

Hum Hallelujah by Fall Out Boy hstarts blaring through the house and she slides on the wood floors to the two, forcing them to dance with her. Over her three weeks she had most certainly come out of her shell and Alan was more than a little proud that had been the cause of it.

“It's all a game of this or that, now versus then
better off against worse for wear.
And you're someone who knows someone who knows someone I once knew
And I just want to be a part of this.”

They dance together and she breaks out one of the delicate turns she had learned during her short period of dance classes. The three pause at a fourth persons clapping, stunned.

“Well done!” Austin teases and she falls out of the turn, frowning. “Does everyone have a key to my house now?” They all nod soberly before bursting into laughter. Dakota scowls, absent mindedly swaying back and forth to the beat of Fall Out Boy.

“And so I said,” Shayley pauses, taking a sip of his lukewarm beer, “you’re just jealous of my big-” “Alright,” Alan interrupts, gently sliding Dakota off his lap. “Let’s get you to bed, buddy.” Shayley rolls his eyes and proceeds to move closer to Dakota now that Alan isn’t sitting right there. She eyes him warily, scooting towards Austin to put distance between herself and the drunken man beside her.

“Na, I think I’ll sit here with this pretty lady.” Alan’s eyebrows raise questioningly.

“Come on, man,” Austin urges, trying to get Shay to move. Shay ignores him, opting to try and put his arm around her.

“You know that’s my girlfriend, right?”

“She is?” Shay asks, unimpressed.

“I am?” She echoes.

“Yeah, she is. Now get away from her, Bourget.” The glint in Alan’s eyes is dangerous and she knows she should look away, but she can’t.

“I don’t think I will. She’s kind of hot. You know, for your standards.” Alan lunges and Dakota rockets up towards him, trying to get him to stop before he can start.

Instead of his fist hitting his intended target, it collides with the side of her face.

That’s gonna leave a bruise.

Notes

Yay for outside conflicts!