#kayla x bailey

[tonyspank]

HEART 2

Summary: Rumours spread like wildfires and you have to convince the ex-pirate that you’re not such a bad person.

Warnings: Idek!

A/N: she’s so cute

Words: 2.0k

Tara Carpenter x Female! Reader

PART ONE

It was a calm Friday evening, the wind was blowing, the street lines were on and you were walking down the slightly busy paths of Blackmore University. With Chad, of course.

You two had just finished football practice, and it had been three days since the Halloween party. Chad was sweaty, his grey Nike compression shirt had a dark stain on the back, while, you were completely dry.

And the only reason you were was because you had gotten in trouble with your coach about your actions at the party. Should Chad also have been in trouble, yes. Did you take the blame for him, yes.

For your coach, the story was that you had started an altercation with Frankie, turning into a fight which led to Chad jumping in to separate it, which only lead to him getting hit in his nose.

There had also been stories going around about how Sam Carpenter, the 'mastermind' behind last year's killings in Woodsboro tased you. Saying that they wouldn't expect less from a murderer.

"Are you excited to see Tara?" Chad teases, bumping your shoulder with his fist. You shake your head as a small laugh leaves your mouth.

"About that..." Chad furrows his eyebrows, "Don't tell me she cancelled your date."

Now it's your turn to furrow your eyebrows, you turn your head to Chad, no longer watching the path in front of you. "Date?! What do you mean date!"

"What do you mean, what do I mean date?!" He says, repeating your words even louder. "It was never a date?" You state, confused.

Was it a date? Tara had given you another note the day after the party, asking you to meet her at a park not too far from the university.

"Y/N! Why would it not be a date!"

You shrug your shoulders, "I don't know!"

Chad lets out a loud groan, slapping his forehead with his free hand, "If a girl gives a note. Right?" You nod at his words and he continues, "And it says HEART, right?" You nod again, but slower.

"Then it flipping means it's a date. She put heart, twice! Not once, but TWICE!"

You stop walking. Chad also stops, and you can't help but mutter, "Fuck!" You throw your head back, continuing to walk. "It was a fucking date. But I'm not ready for a date, I mean I am!— I don't wanna end up hurting her or I just!—"

Chad stops your rambling, "I know that you're scared to date again, but Tara's not Kayla, Y/N. And she doesn't even watch football, she watches futbol, so I highly doubt she even knows who you are."

You bite on your lip, "Actually... I think she does." Chad turns his head to you, "What do you mean?"

"Yesterday... I was walking and I called out Tara's name and she sent me the meanest glare I've ever seen in my entire life. And I think I know why."

"Why?" You pull out your phone, showing Chad the articles they had written about her sister and you.

"Y/N Y/L/N attacks someone at a frat party, shortly after that the star receiver is assaulted by Sam Carpenter, a born serial killer. The victim says they were scared for their life once seeing Carpenter lift a weapon." He reads, confused. "Wait? What? You didn't even make a statement about what happened?"

"Exactly! And I didn't even physically see Sam lift a weapon, I just felt it." You say nonchalantly shrugging it off.

"Tara probably thinks you did make that statement." He mumbles, "We gotta go see her." Chad picks up his pace, and you can't do anything but follow him confused. "Wait! You mean now?" You shout out, jogging after the fast-walking athlete.

-

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" You ask Chad, he had just knocked on the door of the Carpenter-Bailey apartment. Chad stares ahead waiting for the door to be opened, "Of course. Just hide a bit."

You step out of the view of the peephole, "Oh. Okay?" A few more seconds pass and there are multiple clicks heard before the door opens.

"Chad, hey?" You hear Sam say. "Hi! Is Tara here?" Sam steps aside, showing Tara sitting down on the couch, along with Mindy.

"Hey, sis!" Chad waves, he then proceeds to grab you by your shoulders guiding you in front of him and into the apartment. Sam's slight smile leaves her face, along with Tara and Mindy's.

"What is she doing here?" Sam asks, obviously upset by the fact that you're standing in her apartment. "She's here to explain."

You send everyone a nod and wave, "Uh, yeah. Um, I didn't actually say those things... I didn't even make a statement. I only talked to my coach and I never even mentioned that you tased me, I just said that I got into an altercation with Frankie.  Then I took the fall for Chad." You announce to everyone present, Chad nods his head agreeing with your words.

"Exactly! So whoever wrote that article lied. Who wrote it by the way?" Chad then asks you, you pull out your phone and pull up the article searching for the publisher's name.

"It says," You drag out, "Um. Kayla Burke."

Tara scoffs from the couch, "Wait, what? Are you serious?" Chad doesn't even let you answer him before he snatches the phone, and it indeed says, Kayla Burke.

"What the fuck!"

"Wait, who's Kayla Burke?" Mindy questions and Sam nods, wanting to know as well.

"Kayla Burke is Y/N's ex-girlfriend." Mindy's mouth turns into an 'O' shape, and she lets out an "Ohhh! The one that cheated on you, right?"

You take in a breath, looking at the ground and then at Chad who speaks up for you almost immediately, "Mindy. Not right now." The twin holds up her hand in surrender, Sam steps up voicing her input. "So, are you going to make a statement? To get all these rumours situated?"

You quickly nod, "Yes, I can ask my coach about it so that you're not thrown under the bus." You can almost see Sam visibly relax, "I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't know people would say things like that."

"It's not completely your fault, I'm sorry for tasing you." You wave her off, "Already forgotten."

"So you're just going to take the blame for everything that happened at that party?" Mindy asks you with squinted eyes, it was clear she didn't trust you or just didn't believe you had a clear motive.

"I mean? Yeah? I'm already in deep shit for even fighting Frankie, so if it helps Sam clear her name, why not?" You shrug.

Mindy unbelievably nods at your words causing you to slump your shoulders.

"Tara," Her head lifts at your voice. "Can we talk?" She stares at you, waiting for you to speak.

"Um," You look around the room, all eyes on you. "Alone?" You feel Sam's eyes staring into the side of your head. "Just downstairs, please?"

Tara gets up, and walks out the door, not even looking back to see if you were following her or not. You give everyone one last look along with a tight-lipped smile, before following Tara who's seated at the end of the stairs.

You plop down beside her with a sigh, "Hey."

Her eyes stare into yours, and you can practically see the mental battle she's having with herself. She doesn't know if she can trust you, not after reading the articles about her sister and you.

And after reading the article about only you, after figuring out you were some sort of big deal to the school, she looked your name up. She found out about your ex-girlfriend and Frankie, and she believes you only helped her at the party to get back at Frankie in some way.

She also believes that you're a dickhead due to the leaked DM's people have posted of you into multiple 'Stab' subreddits.

But what she doesn't know is that you didn't want to get back at Frankie, you wanted to help her. She also doesn't know that those DM's are fake, and you don't even have any social media to direct message, anyone.

And she doesn't know the fact that you didn't know your hangout was supposed to be a date, not just a friendly get-together.

"Hey." She replies, leaning against the rail beside her. "I'm sorry about what Kayla said about your sister. I didn't even know she was back in journalism."

"Is it true about what you said about that girl?" You furrow your eyebrows at her question, "What?"

"You said something about Amber Freeman last month, right?" You shake your head, confused.

"Amber Freeman?" You say though it says more like a question. "You were texting people about Amber Freeman and how she was the peak of the ghost faces, and she deserved to get away with it."

"Tara—" She interrupts you, continuing. "Amber Freeman was my best friend, well, I thought she was until she tried to kill me. First, she stabbed me seven times, then broke my leg. And Chad, stabbed him seven times as well. So, you'd prefer to see her get away with stabbing your best friend?"

You swallow your spit, not looking away from the hard stare Tara was giving you. "Tara... I never wrote any of those DM's."

Tara's face falls, but she doesn't say anything letting you proceed to talk. "I used to live in Woodsboro and people found out, so of course they wanted me to get involved in all that Ghostface shit, but I never said anything about Amber or anything else about Ghostface."

You chuckle to yourself, "I don't even have any social media to text stuff like that."

"Well, shit." She mutters, "I'm so sorry—"

"It's okay, I have a question though." She furrows her eyebrows, "What is it?"

"Was our hangout tomorrow supposed to be a date?" Tara's face heats up, "Um. I don't— If you wanted it to?" She stutters out, a smile on her face as she finishes.

She looked so cute when she was flustered.

"I think I do want it to be a date now."

"Now?" You stand up from the stairs, holding out a hand. "What about before?" Tara grabs your hand, standing up with you.

"Y/N! What'd you think before!" She yells out after you as you walk up the steps.

You can't help but laugh at the girl.

She stops you from opening the door by grabbing your arm, forcing you to face her. "What'd you think before!"

"Wow! You really hate being out of the loop." Her smile increases, "There's a loop? More people know about this?" You laugh.

As your laugh dies down, you inspect the shorter girl's face in front of you, who smiles up at you,  her dark freckles scattered across her face, and her deep dimples prominent in her smile. Along with those pink plum lips you can't help but stare at, noticing this she licks them, and you look back at her eyes, only to find them staring back with a steady gaze.

"Has anyone told you that you have a cute face," Tara whispers, you chuckle, she probably doesn't even know what she just told you as she's so caught up in the moment. Her hand reaches to your face, trailing over all of your features before lingering on your cheek.

Your heart was pounding, and you were almost scared that Tara might've heard it herself. You began leaning in slowly, drawing your lips closer to hers, she felt so warm and inviting.

Her lips part slightly, and she closes her eyes leaning in with you, you could feel her breath on your lips until you finally connected them.

At first, the kiss was soft and delicate, inside your stomach felt like a sanctuary for butterflies, but on the outside, it felt like fireworks going off, your hands found her waist, deepening the kiss and earning a slight noise from the ex-pirate.

In Tara's mind, she found herself already addicted. You and this kiss were so intoxicating, and she knew once it ended, she'd want it to be repeated.

You pulled away, and Tara shamelessly chased your lips, you chuckle. "Does that answer how I felt before?"

"No, you might need to tell me again."

Your smile, pulling her back into another kiss.

[thatonespriteobsessedbitch]

Books I've Read This Year (2023):

January:

The First to Die at the End - Adam Silvera, 5/5⭐

Belladonna - Adalyn Grace, 5/5⭐

February:

To Kill A Kingdom - Alexandra Christo, 4/5 ⭐

Sorcery of Thorns - Margaret Rogerson, 5/5⭐ (actually my third reread for this book, one of favourites)

The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood, 4/5⭐

Love On The Brain - Ali Hazelwood, 4/5⭐

Mysteries of Thorn Manor - Margaret Rogerson, 5/5⭐

The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo, 4/5⭐

The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 5/5⭐

The Hawthorne Legacy - Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 5/5⭐

The Final Gambit - Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 5/5⭐

A Touch Of Darkness - Scarlett St. Clair, 5/5⭐

Why We Fly - Kimberly Jones, 5/5⭐

The Cheat Sheet - Sarah Adams, 4/5⭐

Loathe To Love You - Ali Hazelwood, 5/5⭐

March:

Icebreaker - Hannah Grace, 4/5⭐

Vespertine - Margaret Rogerson, 5/5⭐

This Vicious Grace - Emily Thiede, 5/5⭐

Nothing More To Tell - Karen M. McManus, 4/5⭐

King of Scars - Leigh Bardugo, 5/5⭐

Rule of Wolves - Leigh Bardugo, 5/5⭐

Off the Record - Camryn Garrett, 5/5⭐

Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare, 2/5⭐

April:

The Darkest Curse - Rachel Rowlands, 4/5⭐

My Killer Vacation - Tessa Bailey, 5/5⭐

The Nowhere Girls - Amy Reed, 5/5⭐

An Enchantment of Ravens - Margaret Rogerson, 5/5⭐

The Hate You Give - Angie Thomas, 5/5⭐ (reread)

Belladonna - Adalyn Grace, 5/5⭐(yes twice in four months)

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna, 4/5⭐

May:

The Awakening - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 4/5⭐

The Way I Used to Be - Amber Smith, 4/5⭐

The Crucible - Arthur Miller, 2/5⭐

The Good Girls - Claire Eliza Bartlett, 5/5⭐

Ruthless Fae - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 4/5⭐

The Reckoning - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 4/5⭐

The Awakening as Told by the Boys - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 4/5⭐

Perfect on Paper - Sophie Gonzales, 4/5⭐

Shadow Princess - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

Cursed Fates - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid, 5/5⭐

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon - Sarah Hawley, 5/5⭐

The Serpent and the Wings of Night - Carissa Broadbent, 5/5⭐

Six Scorched Roses - Carissa Broadbent, 5/5⭐

June:

The Cellist of Sarajevo - Steven Galloway, 1/5⭐

Kingdom of the Wicked - Kerri Maniscalco, 5/5⭐

Kingdom of the Cursed - Kerri Maniscalco, 5/5⭐

Kingdom of the Feared - Kerri Maniscalco, 4/5⭐

Heartless Sky - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

Sorrow and Starlight - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

Dark Fae - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 4/5⭐

Caged Wolf - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

July:

Love, Theoretically - Ali Hazelwood, 4/5⭐

This Delicious Death - Kayla Cottingham, 5/5⭐

Legendborn - Tracy Deonn, 5/5⭐

Bloodmarked - Tracy Deonn, 5/5⭐ (the way I would die for Bree and Sel)

Savage Fae - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 3/5⭐

Vicious Fae - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 4/5⭐

Broken Fae - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

Warrior Fae - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

Alpha Wolf - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 4/5⭐

Feral Wolf - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, 5/5⭐

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid, 5/5⭐

Princess of Souls - Alexandra Christo, 4/5⭐

Tools of Engagement - Tessa Bailey, 4/5⭐

This Poison Heart - Kalynn Bayron, 5/5⭐

The Deal - Elle Kennedy, 2/5⭐

The Weight of Blood - Tiffany D. Jackson, 4/5⭐

Bravely - Maggie Stiefvater, 5/5⭐

August:

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King - Carissa Broadbent, 5/5⭐

This Wicked Fate - Kaylynn Bayron, 5/5⭐

Into The Bloodred Woods - Martha Brockenbrough, 4/5⭐

Trial of the Sun Queen - Nisha J. Tuli, 5/5⭐

September:

The Female of The Species - Mindy McGinnis, 5/5⭐ (the ending killed me, I ugly cried) (def read the trigger warnings tho)

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros, 5/5⭐ (worth the hype)

Foxglove - Adalyn Grace, 5/5⭐ (I laughed, cried and swooned)

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros, 5/5⭐ (twice in a week lol)

Rule of the Aurora King - Nisha J. Tuli, 5/5⭐

Ravensong - Cayla Fay, 4/5⭐

October:

Such Sharp Teeth - Rachel Harrison, 5/5⭐

House of Earth and Blood - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

House of Sky and Breath - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

The Assassin's Blade - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

Crown of Midnight - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

Heir of Fire - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

Macbeth - William Shakespeare, 4/5⭐

Queen of Shadows - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

November:

Empire of Storms - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros, 5/5⭐ (I cried like a baby reading the last 30 pages)

Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao, 5/5⭐ (my 100th book this year)

Wildfire - Hannah Grace, 4/5⭐

Raven - Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo, 5/5⭐

Beast Boy - Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo, 5/5⭐

Beast Boy Loves Raven - Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo, 5/5⭐

Robin - Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo, 5/5⭐

Tower of Dawn - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

Kingdom of Ash - Sarah J Maas, 5/5⭐ (part of my SJM reread for HOFAS)

Salvage the Bones - Jesmyn Ward, 3.5⭐

December:

The Off-Limits Rule - Sarah Adams, 3/5⭐

Once Upon A Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber, 5/5⭐

The Importance of Being Ernest and Other Plays - Oscar Wilde, 4/5⭐

The Ballad of Never After - Stephanie Garber, 5/5⭐ (I read it twice in three days lol)

A Curse for True Love - Stephanie Garber, 5/5⭐ (actually my xmas present from my brother)

Check & Mate - Ali Hazelwood, 5/5⭐

Assistant to the Villain - Hannah Nicole Maehrer, 5/5⭐

Lightlark - Alex Aster, 4/5⭐

The Dead Romantics - Ashley Poston, 5/5⭐ (well... I finished the last 50 pages after midnight but Goodreads is still counting it, so I'm still counting it lol)

[kayla-comm476-blog]

The Intersection of True Crime & Social Media: When Does It Go Too Far?

By: Kayla Downing

Introduction

It is human nature to be fascinated by the macabre and the truly horrifying. Most people when they see a car accident on the side of the highway will slow down to observe the crash and comment on the aftermath. I think this translates into the modern fascination with true crime. True crime, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, are books, movies, podcasts, documentaries, etcetera about real crimes that happened to real people. The most “popular” genre of true crime tends to revolve around serial killers, gruesome murders, or kidnappings and torturings. True crime as a genre was brought to fruition in 1966 with the publication of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, however the genre stayed relatively obscure until the late 2010’s. True crime in recent years has become a common fascination, especially among young adult & teenage women. There are countless communities online dedicated to the dissection of true crime cases, specifically on Twitter (personal note: I understand that the name of the platform is now “X”, however, I will still most likely be calling it Twitter throughout this post) and TikTok. 

Since 2018, true crime has seen an even larger spike in popularity, and during the pandemic the genre skyrocketed. YouTube videos on the genre saw a large uptick in views, and in 2019 it only grew larger. Channels like Bailey Sarian and her segment “Murder, Mystery & Makeup” or Buzzfeed Unsolved have been pioneers in the genre gaining popularity, especially within the young adult & teenage women audience. 

So, why has this genre become so popular? What is so appealing about it, especially to women? What is the effect of this genre gaining popularity, on the families of the victims as well as those who are now investing in the genre? Within this blog post, I want to look at the Gabby Petito case (a very well documented murder case of how social media can affect murder investigations), the social media response surrounding the release of the Ted Bundy movie starring Zac Efron Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, and end out by understanding how this fascination with the genre affects our empathy and how it affects those who are closely related to those true crime cases.

The TikTok Hunt for Gabby Petito

Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old TikToker, was about to go on a cross-country roadtrip with her fiancé in their RV when she went missing around the end of August 2021. Her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, eventually returned to their shared home in early September without Gabby, disappearing off the grid two weeks later, and causing a widespread hunt for Laundrie and search for Gabby. People quickly pointed the finger at Laundrie, and all over social media people were desperate for clues to his whereabouts to bring him to justice for what was, at the time, the supposed murder of Gabby Petito. Eventually, authorities were able to find the remains of both individuals and rule their causes of death: strangulation for Gabby, and suicide for Laundrie. From there, the public widely considered Laundrie to be the cause of Gabby’s death, and that he had committed suicide to save himself from the guilt and backlash.

While this case is extremely tragic in a lot of ways, something that can’t be understated is how much social media played a role in it, for better or for worse. It is through TikTok that investigators were able to find the RV that Gabby and Laundrie had been traveling in, as a couple combed through their own video footage of their bus road trip to find the last known location of Gabby’s RV. This was instrumental in being able to find her remains and then eventually rule her cause of death as a homicide. 

However, there were also massive downsides and setbacks associated with the public’s fascination and obsession with the Gabby Petito case. People were claiming false sightings of the couple, or spreading viral theories about what could have happened. While the police and FBI never outright spoke on whether or not these impeded their investigations, it seems in poor taste to use the murder of a girl to go viral on TikTok.

Doing things like that can separate the person from the case, and lower the empathy towards the people who are legitimately suffering because of this; it draws them into the limelight on an extremely sensitive and hurtful topic, all because people want to get a couple million views on their videos.

The biggest thing, in my opinion, that people fail to remember when these large cases go viral is that they’re real people, not fictional. False accusations on social media have very impactful consequences, and false theories can spread misinformation that’s potentially harmful to more than just the direct parties. In this case, spreading rumors about sightings of both Laundrie and Gabby could have led the police and the FBI in the wrong direction for their investigation. There are also adverse effects for the family members, as they are now thrust into the limelight over something that’s truly tragic. 

The Response to Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile

Gabby Petito’s case is one of many examples of the desensitization to true crime through social media. Just recently, Netflix released their documentary series on the murderer Alex Murdagh only two weeks before the trial jury reached a consensus. It’s things like this that push our empathy out of our minds; after all, isn’t the psychology of a killer inherently interesting? But these documentaries don’t take into consideration the feelings of the victims. For instance, the creators of Netflix’s series on Jeffrey Dahmer didn’t reach out to any of the families of the victims for consent to create the show. A similar case happened with the release of their movie on Ted Bundy, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, which covered the Ted Bundy murders from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, Liz.

This movie had seen its fair share of backlash upon and before release in 2019. When the movie was first announced, the casting of Zac Efron as Ted Bundy generated very controversial discussions. People felt it was “truthful” to the reality of the situation, as is commonly known from the court trial that people would proclaim Bundy’s innocence due to his attractiveness, and others called it insensitive to the families of the victims. 

While perhaps the casting of Zac Efron wasn’t the smartest choice on Netflix’s part, it did create a lot of attention surrounding the movie, and therefore, the subject matter. People took to even calling Ted Bundy attractive and, from there, it was revealed that there even fan accounts dedicated to Ted Bundy, specifically on Twitter.

People began to put Ted Bundy on such a pedestal; saying enough things about him being attractive that even Netflix had to release a statement about the things everyone was saying. All in all, it was a very telling reaction to the general public’s view on true crime and how desensitized to the truly violent acts they are.

Social Media's Role in True Crime Desensitization

So, with all this being said, how does social media specifically play a role in the desensitizing of true crime & violent content to the greater public? Social media encourages the idea of marketing it as content (shows like “Cookies & Crime” or theory videos on people like Gabby Petito) rather than impactful news. When people watch a TikTok of a woman decorating a tombstone cookie while detailing the gruesome murders of a family, people aren’t registering the truly violent and, well, wicked things they’re hearing. Presenting the content in this manner does little to convey how dangerous, upsetting, and disturbing these cases are. True crime documentaries also exist at an all-time demand, especially post-pandemic where people found themselves scrounging for things to watch to keep them occupied. True crime podcasts consistently reign amongst the most popular podcasts, and new ones seem to pop up almost every week.

This subject matter, as gruesome it may be, honestly does interest me to some extent (more or less, the fascination other people seem to have with true crime). When I was first starting college, I also wanted to potentially pursue a career in crime (I wanted to be a criminal psychologist) but in my sophomore year, I switched to communication. A large part of why I switched was because the biggest reason for me wanting to go into that major was the glorification of criminal profilers and criminal psychologists through social media or shows like CSI and Law & Order. So, at one point in time, I felt the exact same fascination that most other women do with true crime – and that’s another thing; why do so many women love the true crime genre? 

In my opinion, it’s because the young adult and teenage women are the prime demographic that most serial killers tend to target. While obviously there are cases like John Wayne Gacy or Jeffrey Dahmer who primarily target young men & boys, the large majority tend to target women. I think there’s also a fascination with understanding the mindset and motivations behind “psychopaths” or “sociopaths”. What drives them to want to torture? To maim? To kill? It’s questions that will hardly ever get truthful answers, and social media provides the perfect platform to build theories and communicate with other true crime fans to find out their own theories. It’s a vicious cycle that will probably always continue, and it’s one that (in my opinion) creates a want to be in the spotlight for these things. 

More often than not, people are more likely to be able to list the names of countless serial killers, kidnappers, and torturers. Those same people likely cannot begin to name one of the victims of those terrible people. That’s in large effect due to the media's obsession with those who commit the crimes rather than those who have suffered; after all, where’s the newsworthiness in talking about the life of a woman or man who suffered? School shootings produce exposés and biographies on the shooters, while the victims get little more than a passing remembrance after the initial newsbreak.

Conclusion

I know that this blog may seem a little all over the place, but I’m hoping the spirit of my message can still be heard and understood. In my opinion, news media & social media are big reasons why true crime shot up in popularity and why so many people have become “obsessed” with the genre and have a morbid fascination with the subject matter. 

I’d like to close this out by talking about the initial question posed in the title: when does this go too far? For me, it’s when the lines get blurred between understanding that these people are real and wanting to make content.

There is a need, especially in this day and age, to go viral by any means necessary, whether good or bad. People will lie about facial features (a la “Scar Girl” on TikTok), diseases (ticsandroses, who infamously faked having Tourette’s, or the countless young teens who seem to be faking Dissociative Identity Disorder), and more just to boost their view count. Controversy creates more talk and views than almost anything else, and true crime is one of the most controversial subject matters out there. Decorating and icing cookies as you touch on gruesome murders is, inherently, controversial; at its core, it’s dehumanizing the content in a way that it becomes hard to understand and appreciate the gravity of the situation. Those videos are filled with countless comments of things like “I love this case!” or “this content is so gross”; from there, people will share it with their friends to discuss, and at that point, the subject matter isn’t even entirely relevant to the conversation.

I think cases like Gabby Petito are a rare example of how social media can do good rather than harm in current true crime cases. There’s a term that was thrown around a lot during my research of “armchair detective”, in which people will sit from the comfort of their homes and try to solve violent crimes using tools available through social media. They will comb through post histories, playlists, anything they can get their hands on to (1) create theories on what could happened and (2) create viral content on these theories to generate either actual awareness on the issue (as I find, this happens rarely) or spark some type of debate. Armchair detectives normally do more harm than good in those situations as they can disseminate potentially harmful falsities that can impede an investigation (like what likely happened with Gabby Petito). However, it was these types of true crime fans that were able to identify where Gabby’s RV was and then help investigators locate her remains; it’s an extremely double-edged sword.

While I doubt that there’s anything I can really do to find or create a solution to stop this problem, I’d like to do what I can to bring attention to it. This is something I feel about deeply, especially considering I used to be someone who was really into and would consider themselves obsessive about true crime or serial killers. This type of content, and creating content specifically to go viral off of it, is harmful with really no way of changing it. Very rarely do these videos give spotlight to the victims. Beyond that, most families of the victims wish for nothing more than these types of stories to lose their traction and fade away. I can’t even begin to imagine how it must feel, as a family member of someone whom Ted Bundy killed, to see people idolize him and proclaim his innocence. Or how it must feel to see new documentary after film after TV show detailing who he was, how he murdered people, etcetera. As a whole, our society can do a lot better by these families, and I think we should. After all we’ve done to force the murderer of their daughter or son or sister or brother in their faces, I think it’s the least of what we owe them.

Bibliography

Bentley, L. (2023, March 31). The internet’s true crime obsession has gone too far. The Diamondback. https://dbknews.com/2023/03/31/internet-tiktok-true-crime-documentary-criminal-subculture/ 

Board, L. E. (2023, January 9). The rise of Social Media Crime Solvers. Grand Valley Lanthorn. https://lanthorn.com/95858/opinion/the-rise-of-social-media-crime-solvers/ 

Chu, A. (2021, September 20). Gabby Petito case: Tampa family spots White Camper Van in video - wtsp.com. WTSP. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/special-reports/gabby-petito-case/tampa-family-gabby-petito-van-video/67-cb4ea49a-b778-4a5c-980b-4510a0b5ba84 

Cross, B. (2023, February 25). The Dark Side of social media: How true crime content is trending. Cold Case Inc. https://coldcaseinc.com/the-dark-side-of-social-media-how-true-crime-content-is-trending/ 

Maxouris, C. (2022, January 21). A timeline of 22-year-old Gabby Petito’s case. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/16/us/gabby-petito-timeline-missing-case/index.html 

Sayles, J. (2021, July 9). The Bloody Bubble. The Ringer. https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/7/9/22567381/true-crime-documentaries-boom-bubble-netflix-hbo 

Whitehurst, L., & Licon, A. G. (2021, September 29). Gabby Petito story boosted by social media, true-crime craze. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/gabby-petito-social-media-tiktok-investigation-d2e9a5d627c2f39b5633174239c3beaf 

[claudiadonovan]

Nat isn’t stupid: a friendship rekindled with the girl she fell in love with barely out of her teens—the woman who poured a lifetime’s worth of trust issues over her and lit a match—the mother to her kids, so full of love and compassion and patience it’s always been just a little too hard to look away—the ex-wife who hammered her wedding ring into Nat’s door, like she had any right to betrayal, like that was something she deserved to share—the best friend she ever had—

it’s too dangerous a choice to make.

or: a series of vignettes about gigi rearranging things that belong to nat, and all of the almosts along the way. nat/gigi-centric, but also alice/nat/gigi.

[onyxedideas]

Ü for whomever

You’re still a blanket hog. I woke up twice ‘cuz my feet were fucking freezing. I sincerely hope your duvet rebels and decides to choke you in your sleep. - Nadia

Just stole another one of your shirts. Love me anyway? ;) - Essie

You’re the kind of guy a girl can write 1000 songs about :) I’ll be in the studio, come find me when you see this. - Kayla

If you wake up before I get back DON’T OPEN THE OVEN. I tried to bake us a cake and it all went horribly wrong so I’m buying one down the road. I’ll make some tea to go with it and bring it to bed. So just go back. Now. - Edie

I know you hate it when I sneak out but I can’t help it. I’m terrible at goodbyes. I love you btw. Come back soon. Or at least soon enough. - Ava

Snuck in while you were out. I may or may not be completely naked at this point. Find out on the next episode of ‘Your girlfriend is the fucking GOAT’ - Amaka

I ate the last of the jollof rice…so y’know feel free to tell your wife that you did it. That’s what you get for falling asleep early when I’m sleeping over - Amaka

You. Me. On the yacht. 4am tomorrow. The sunrise is a thing of beauty. - Z

Saw some paparazzi outside and freaked out for a second. If they get in my face I’m telling them I’m your cleaning lady. :) Also, meet me at the cafe - Cara

[redhairedwolfwitch]

Doctor Y/n - Intern Year - 8 - Grey's Anatomy x Fem!Reader

Jo was gone.

So you spent the night lying awake in an on-call room until someone paged you for an incoming trauma.

"What have we got?" Doctor Grey asked, taking the chart from the paramedic.

"Kayla Wayne, 32, hypotensive and tachycardic, hypoxic even after intubation. Severe open wound to the mid and lower abdomen." The paramedic explained as you, Brooks, Ross and Doctors Grey began to pull the gurney into the ER.

"Okay, slow down, tell me what happened." Doctor Grey turned to the two people who said they were with the patient.

"We, we were, uh, performing at a, at a trade show-"

"Performing what?" Ross asked, looking at them as the woman explained.

"It was saw the lady in half."

"No way!" Brooks exclaimed, sharing looks with you before the two of you began to move the packing away.

You grimaced as blood spurted out, splashing across Brooks' shoulder as you dodged it.

"And he really did! With a chainsaw!"

///

"Grey! Uh, wow, S/n, I need you today-"

"It looks like the pelvis is involved, we'll get more x-rays in the OR." Doctor Grey explained to Doctor Torres as she began to help with the gurney.

"You know, Brooks is on my moyamoya case, but if you need her here-" Doctor Shepherd began, leaving Doctor Grey to glance between you, Brooks and Ross.

"I have Ross, Torres has S/n, and I paged Bailey, so you can take her." Doctor Grey replied, leaving Brooks' face to fall.

"What?! But she's cut in half! This is gonna be amazing!" Brooks pouted as you laughed slightly at her reaction, helping Doctor Grey load the patient into the lift before Doctor Torres pulled you back.

"Page me when she's stable enough for x-rays!" Doctor Torres instructed before the elevator doors shut.

///

"Who's Lauren?" Callie enquired, pointing to the name on Arizona's coffee cup whilst you trailed behind them, trying to not listen to their conversation.

"Oh, god. It's actually a funny story. I was..." Doctor Robbins began before Doctor Torres asked if she knew about Doctor Webber taking all of Doctor Bailey's patients.

"S/n, how are you and Wilson?" Doctor Robbins asked but her face fell when you just huffed.

"She moved in with Myers and now I can't sleep. I have over ten years worth of abandonment issues, which Joey knew about, but nope, she just moved out before I even got back. Doctor Bailey is up in her genome lab, if you were wondering." You explained, ignoring the look on Doctor Robbins' face when you mentioned abandonment issues.

"How can you work knowing Bailey is mad at you?" Doctor Torres called after Doctor Robbins, who said she had a consult to get to.

"Let's go, mini-me." Doctor Torres stated, turning to you as you frowned.

"Mini... I don't think-"

"You're a baby ortho doctor, my goal is for you to flourish into a ortho goddess, like myself." Doctor Torres replied before the two of you arrived at Doctor Bailey's genome lab.

"Miranda, it's me, Callie... I also brought S/n, but it's me! Can I, can I come in?"

///

"Doctor Torres, we're being paged, the x-rays for the chainsaw to the abdomen are done." You stated, distracting Callie from the fact that Doctor Bailey was ignoring her in the genome lab.

"You'll need to plate the fracture when the patient is stable, right?" You murmured as Doctor Torres put up the x-ray films.

"Yes, we will." Callie smiled, the two of you heading to the OR.

"I, uh, I just took a look at the films you did, I'll need to plate the fracture as soon as she's stable... Oh, if she's ever stable." Doctor Torres realised, leaving you and her to eventually leave the OR as Doctors Webber and Grey worked on damage control.

///

"She's already in the box!" Brooks retorted, leaving Shane to sigh.

"But where, there's no room!"

"Like my new apartment." Jo remarked, leaving Steph to laugh.

"Living with Peckwell not all it's up to be compared to living with S/n?" Steph asked, watching Jo's face fall as you walked past.

"She looks tired." Jo mumbled to herself before screaming from the video of the saw the lady in half incident distracted everyone.

"Yeah, when Y/n can't sleep, she's here- whoah!" Brooks exclaimed, cutting herself off as Jo frowned at what Brooks had said.

///

You were sat on the couch, reading over articles on a surgery that Doctor Torres wanted you to prep for when you heard a key in the lock.

Your eyes flickered from the door to the baseball bat propped up next to it before you heard sobbing.

"Joey? What, what happened?" Jo let out a whimper as you opened the door, letting her inside as you checked that nobody had followed her.

"We were arguing, but it got so bad... and, and Alex, I went to him but he left me, he ran out his house-"

"You went to Karev before... it doesn't matter, do you want me to report this? Joey, he hit you!" You argued, keeping your voice level as Jo sobbed on the couch.

"Fuck..." You mumbled to yourself, heading towards the freezer to grab a bag of frozen peas then a blanket to wrap Jo in.

The couch was soft as you sat down, tentatively wrapping Jo in the blanket as she leaned into you, sobs shaking her body as you held the bag of frozen peas to the bruised side of her face.

"I'll report this, but only if you-"

"No, we can't risk it, I can't risk him finding me." Jo panicked, leaving you to just hum, running your fingers through her hair to qwell her panic. You knew immediately who the 'him' was she was referring to.

///

"You sure you want to go in?" You asked, pulling the hood of your grey hoodie over Jo's head as she pulled up to the hospital car park.

"You already know the answer, Braces." Jo gave you a sad smile, leaving you to just nod before the two of you headed inside.

"He didn't do it. He just found him. I did it." Jo admitted as she walked into where Doctors Grey and Yang were interrogating Doctor Karev.

You folded your arms, leaning in the doorframe before Jo reached back for your hand.

"We were having a fight, he grabbed my arm, I fought him off, it got ugly, he fell backwards and hit his head on the fireplace, he was still yelling when I left. He was fine, I swear!" Jo explained, leaving Karev to pause.

"Did you run from mine-"

"You left me alone, so I ran to Braces and stayed with her. I should never have left her... I know you haven't been sleeping because you can't sleep without someone you trust." Jo began to apologise but you just shook your head.

"Any updates on Myers?" You asked, looking at Karev who just shrugged.

"You two should go, nobody says a word until we know exactly what is going on." Karev planned and kept talking but you had zoned out as you remembered what had happened last time Jo got hurt by a guy.

"Hey, are you okay?" Steph asked, glancing between you and Jo as Jo covered her face.

"You two, go..." Karev mouthed, leaving you to nod before gently taking Jo's hand to lead her away.

///

The two of you were heading down the stairwell when you heard Doctor Grey.

"We're going, I swear!" Jo exclaimed, pausing as Doctor Grey stopped on the stairs, "look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt Jason, I was just trying to get away from him, and I just lost it, I lost it."

"I like you. But I love Alex. I don't know if he's dumb enough or loyal enough to take the fall for you, but he just might be." Doctor Grey admitted, watching you as you avoided her gaze.

"I'd never let him do that. I wouldn't." Jo argued, leaving Doctor Grey to just nod before letting you and Jo go.

"You know if I was there-" You began but Jo knew, you could tell she knew because whilst her face gave you a sharp look to stop talking, her eyes were soft.

///

You were lighting candles when you heard a knock at the door.

"Alex?" Jo's voice had you tensing as you remained in the kitchen, watching as Jo let Alex in.

"What the hell happened?"

"Power went out half an hour ago-"

"No, you! What were you thinking? Peckwell could have died!" Alex exclaimed, focussing on Jo whilst you slowly approached the two of them.

"Is he-" Jo began but Alex interrupted, walking forwards.

"No, he's fine and you're lucky he's not pressing charges, but you are an idiot. You get that you could have gone to jail, right? You say that you work so hard to change, to become this new person, but then you do this? You don't want to be a lowlife anymore, you've gotta grow up and stop acting like one-"

Jo was about to push Alex out of her personal space when you slid between them, confusing Alex but shocking Jo momentarily.

"No! You grow up! Not everyone is like you, Alex! People are horrible, and the last time someone grabbed me like Jason did, I... I promised no-one would ever do that again. So I am sorry, not everyone's like you, not everyone's good..." Jo froze, confusing you as she was about to speak but you shook your head.

"I promised myself that nobody would ever hurt Joey again. I know you probably think that if Joey hadn't defended herself that you would have done something, but you would have to get in line behind me. I'd walk through hell for Joey, because that is what she is worth and I know you know that." You explained, watching Karev's face melt into realisation whilst Jo got more and more confused.

It wasn't until the windows shook from the force of the storm that you tensed.

"Yeah, I think we'd be safer at the hospital than here." You admitted, leaving Alex to nod as he looked around whilst Jo began to blow out candles.

///

Tags: @nnightskiess

[beaujester]

@LauraBaileyVO: @VoiceOfOBrien Siblings in a past life for sure. I like to think our long lost souls saw each other and smiled the first time we met.

(for kayla’s birthday ♥)

[drarreckyninja]

drarreckyninja's top 50 ships of Feb 2022 [part 1/5]

50. Cistall

Sister "Cissy" Bear x Too Tall "TT" Grizzly [The Berenstain Bears]

Cissy easily becomes narcissistic when it comes to her hobbies, like dancing and jump rope. She's also a major gossiper; both quirks similar to TT's ex-girlfriend Queenie. TT has a soft center, and I could see them getting together when they get older.

49. Brayla

Brittany Ann x Kayla [Miss BG]

It may be a Dom/Sub relationship, considering how easily Kayla obeys Brittany Ann's dictations. She'll easily taunt others (including friends) if that's Brittany Ann's decision. It's not completely one-sided, as Brittany Ann admits that Kayla's the best friend she's got. And she'd rather spend Valentine's Day with Kayla than the boy who's after her affections.

48. Barge

Beetle Bailey x Sergeant "Sarge" Snorkel [Beetle Bailey comics]

It's actually become a popular headcanon that Beetle and Sarge are gay lovers in a Don't Ask, Don't Tell era military, and their constant scuffles and insults are disguised as sexual tension built up by their inability to freely engage in a relationship.

47. Wonkafrost

Willy Wonka x Jack Frost [Charlie and the Chocolate Factory x The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause]

Both men are outcasts among their peer groups and families. They have big plans for their businesses and are very eccentric in their ways. Furthermore, neither of them cares much for the women in their company.

46. Jacey

Josephine "Joey" Potter x Pacey Witter [Dawson's Creek]

Dawson is much too petty when it comes to his friends, causing fights whether or not intentional. Pacey loved Joey first, and he's there for Joey when she needs him. He doesn't want to give her up and says as much, but he only wants her to stay with him if she'll be happy.

45. Kames

Ken Jennings III x James Holzhauer [Jeopardy; The Chase]

Ken and James have a friendly, hilarious rivalry. They banter online, but they also go shopping together. In 2003, on Ken's first Jeopardy episode, he claimed to be there because of "two drunk teenagers and a truck driver in the Nevada desert." In 2003, James was 18-19. Was he one of the drunk Nevada teenagers? I like to think so.

44. Sparkison

Elliot Spencer x Parker x Alec Hardison [Leverage]

John Rogers basically verified in a tweet that he used the original series finale to make this OT3 canon. They are always there for one another.

43. Dasey

Derek x Casey [Life with Derek]

In the beginning, they seemed to just be average stepsiblings... then it went left field. You gotta remember that they're two teenagers who don't know each other and are forced to live together. They grow certain attachments, and it might not be all platonic.

42. Licmint

Lord Licorice x Mister Mint [Candyland; Candy Land: The Great Lollipop Adventure]

Mint is very optimistic and has no qualms in sneaking through Licorice's cave a la shortcut... until he gets caught. IRL: licorice and peppermint go very well together.

41. Lumiworth

Lumiere x Cogsworth [Beauty and the Beast]

Although Lumiere spent a lot of time in the first movie with his feather duster girlfriend, he was also happy to kiss Cogsworth after they chased off the villagers. They're snarky yet affectionate to one another, and they truly care for each other.

[doubleattitude]

Radix Dance Convention, Las Vegas, NV: RESULTS

High Scores by Age:

Rookie Solo

1st: Mila Renae-’Soldier’

1st: Melina Blitz-’The Poet Creature’

2nd: Aliya Yen-’Loyal, Brave & True’

3rd: Sebastian Mancini-’Guerrerio’

4th: Dylan Reuss-’Lost Boy’

5th: Bella Mendez-’Pump’

6th: Emma Acosta-’Lip Gloss’

7th: Lexi Yeackle-’I Will Wait’

8th: Kaiya Carrillo-’Love Shack’

8th: Rylan Farrales-’Stand In The Light’

9th: Enslee Moore-’Ooh Child’

10th: Olivia Caylor-’Queen Bee’

Mini Solo

1st: Kinley Cunningham-’Glam’

2nd: Fiona Wu-’Red Dust’

3rd: Joy Line-’Broken Dreams’

3rd: Carrigan Paylor-’Orange Colored Sky’

3rd: Karyna Majeroni-’Pistolet’

3rd: Keelyn Jones-’Slowly Fading’

3rd: Fiona Sartain-’The Way You Move’

4th: Starr Castro-’Bang Bang’

4th: Peyton Szuberla-’Glacier’

4th: Addison Price-’We Will Not Give In’

5th: Madelyn Murphy-’Desierto’

5th: Roxie Onellion-’Drifting Down’

6th: Esprit Frank-’Grains’

6th: Claire Gestring-’On The Mast of Faith’

7th: Tiara Sherman-’Cielo’

7th: Jenna Le-’Matters to Me’

7th: Cerys Cogswell-’Pure Imagination’

8th: Jacob Barrow-’Shifting’

8th: Aurora Brady-’Hit The Road Jack’

8th: Cha Cha Shen-’Here I Come’

8th: Alyssa Mastroianni-’Crippled Bird’

8th: Leah Munson-’Copy Cat’

8th: Claire Hansen-’By The Roses’

8th: Peyton Nowacki-’Angels to Fly’

9th: Annabella Atkinson-’The Dutch Girl’

9th: Eden Hawkins-’Shadow’

9th: Olive O’Connell-’Live Like Legends’

9th: Ella King-’Like A River’

9th: Tatum Brady-’Fall Creek’

9th: Oliviana Mancini-’At Peace’

10th: Leighton Brandt-’Legs’

10th: Annie Carlson-’Young’

Junior Solo

1st: Kylie Kaminsky-’The Offering’

2nd: Brooke Toro-’As The Dust Settles’

2nd: Coltrane Vodicka-’Moon River’

2nd: Alita Kneeland-’Spine

2nd: Makaia Roux-’Unbound’

3rd: Alexis Mayer-’Vivid

4th: Emmy Claire Kaiden-’Eyesore’

4th: Naia Parker-’Lit’

5th: Bella Kidder-’Feeling Good’

5th: Hope Edwards-’Gravity’

5th: Lucy Cavender-’Material Girl’

5th: Isabelle Zorrilla-’Orion’

5th: Kira Chan-’Pump’

5th: Kendyl Fay-’To Build A Home’

5th: Aaliyah Dixon-’Toxic’

6th: Mackenzie Kleveno-’Lost It To Trying’

6th: Taytum Ruckle-’Perfect Lie’

6th: Anabel Alexander-’Plans We Made’

7th: Victoria Johnson-’Genius’

7th: Aedyn Bekker-’New York State of Mind’

7th: Brianna Gorksi-’Night Sky’

8th: Kendall Jundt-’Awakening’

8th:Lexi Godwin-’Debut’

8th: Casey Cheung-’I Remember’

8th: Ava Hill-’Shallow’

9th: Izzy Wadington-’Final Solution’

9th: Jovie Leigh Ugerio-’Ring Them Bells’

10th: Madison De Dios-’On My Mind’

10th: Clare Loftus-’Restless Night’

10th: Delaney Bojorquez-’Tessellate’

Teen Solo

1st: Ashur Taylor-’Relax’

2nd: Cydney Heard-’Black Mourning’

2nd: Gianna Mojonnier-’Inside Outside’

2nd: Olivia Magni-’Moonlight Sonata’

2nd: Coco Saul-’Transportin’

3rd: Jadyn Saigusa-’Wonderlust’

3rd: Emily Madden-’Vibeology’

3rd: Calli Perryman-’Still Running’

3rd: Michelle Cheng-’Sinking’

3rd: Georgia Ehrlich-’On My Mind’

3rd: Tyler Chiyuto-’Llarona’

3rd: Blanche Arnold-’How To Be Your Own Person’

3rd: Ava Lynn-’Everything’s Alright’

3rd: Addison Middleton-’Dark Dissonance’

4th: Charlotte Cogan-’You’

4th: Hailey Meyers-’Standing Still’

4th: Isiah Bowens-’Miss You’

4th: Avery Hall-’If I Think’

4th: Luke Barrett-’Eden’

4th: Emma Donnelly-’Departure’

4th: Ava Kendall-’Always On My Mind’

5th: Zuzu Duchon-’Twelfth of Never’

5th: Angelika Edejer-’Toxic Thoughts’

5th: Riley Platenberg-’Talking Points’

5th: Annabelle Mang-’One Small Step’

5th: Sabine Nehls-’No Regrets’

5th: Ella Montano-’Lonely’

5th: Natalie Bowen-’I Think I’m Alone Now’

5th: Cade Clark-’I Can’t Move’

5th: Berlynn Gonzalez-’Hero’

5th: Courtney Chiu-’Fever’

5th: Drew Rosen-’Exhalation’

5th: Rachel Polizzotto-’Entrapment’

5th: Raven Alanes-’Confusion’

5th: Mikaella Lopez-’Blues-y’

5th: Izzy Howard-’Amen’

6th: Sophia Oppegard-’You Can’t Leave’

6th: Elle O’Donnell-’Slowly’

6th: Lily Godwin-’Ode to Divorce’

6th: Aubrie Stoehr-’Now I Cry’

6th: Sofia Mah-’Life’

6th: Mia Ibach-’Koladi Ola’

6th: Piper Rovsek-’Innate Abstraction’

6th: Sakura Amano-’I Love You’

6th: Sophia Albornoz-’Even When It Hurts’

6th: Sammi Chung-’eight’

6th: Ella Sheppard-’Do You’

6th: Ally Cheung-’Cut The World’

6th: Kate Seleno-’Curtain Call’

6th: Kayla Harrison-’Crumbling’

7th: Kennedy Blazek-’Zilla’

7th: Libby Haye-’Work Song’

7th: Katelyn Neasham-’Touch’

7th: Sebastian Hsu-Kwan-’Scat’

7th: Lauren Pond-’Satellite Heart’

7th: Aleyna Laba-’Playdoh’

7th: Linda Diaz-’Paper Moon’

7th: Maya Krajicek-’Idea for Strings’

7th: Kennie Shen-’Feeling Good’

7th: Jenna Tarry-’Down The Line’

7th: Ava Thorp-’Blue Notebook’

7th: Emma Hellenkamp-’Blackbird’

7th: Felix Fulton-’A Dream I Can’t Forget’

8th: Dempsey Foxson-’Vain’

8th: Carys Ashby-’The Empress’

8th: Angelica Keamy-’Research’

8th: Melina Gurich-’Net Works’

8th: Raina Wu-’Looking In’

8th: Alexis Olson-’Just Say That’

8th: Gabi D’Ambra-’In For the Kill’

8th: Piper Camm-’Drones’

8th: Scotlynn Potter-’Cinematic Plea for an End’

8th: Ava Saremaslani-’Canvas’

9th: Maile Cochran-’Tesselate’

9th: Jera Linkins-’Put Your Records On’

9th: Kayla Seitel-’Monster’

9th: Alexis Ahn-’Brighter Days’

9th: Brayden Owens-’Tux’

10th: Addyson Smith-’Ecdysis’

10th: Presslie Novits-’Let Me Entertain You’

10th: Siena Riga-’Naked’

10th: Mandy Boaz-’Pink’

10th: Brooklyn Piano-’Solitary’

10th: Destiny Harris-’Up’

Senior Solo

1st: Alex Shulman-’In System’

1st: Ella Horan-’Silk’

2nd: Jade Bucci-’Sacrifice’

3rd: Alexis Weldner-’Release’

3rd: Jemoni Powe-’Second Thought’

4th: Brianna Sanchez-’Stolen’

4th: Charlotte Foldes-’You Forget Everything’

5th: Izzy Burton-’Gimme’

6th: Mallory McKenna-’I’m Lonely’

6th: Julian Menendez-’Note to Self’

6th: Kennedy Barry-’The Distance Between’

7th: Makaila Teagle-’Breathe Into Me’

7th: Vanessa Valenzuela-’Poem About Death’

7th: Bailey Holt-’Rose Water’

8th: Emmy Cheung-’Nostos’

8th: Alex Andrada-’Still In Love’

9th: Nina Sawaya-’All I Wanted’

9th: Lauren Polizzotto-’Distant Echos’

9th: Reese Willis-’Godspeed’

9th: Hannah Averbuck-’Got2BReal’

9th: Savannah Laughton-’Nostalgia’

10th: Izabel Hurtado-’Film Credits’

10th: Aleialanee Ponce De Leon-’Mirrored Heart’

10th: Megan Chie-’You’

Rookie Duo/Trio

1st: Studio Fusion-’Kansas City’

1st: Danceology-’Time of My Life’

2nd: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Tomorrow’

3rd: Notion Dance Concepts-’MILK $’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Respect’

2nd: Murrieta Dance Project-’Midnight Train’

3rd: Studio X-’Vogue’

3rd: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’We Are’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’And So It Is’

2nd: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Inception’

3rd: Danceology-’Celloopa’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Everything Is In Line’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Make Me High’

2nd: Danceology-’Busy Signal’

3rd: Danceology-’Smile In The Rain’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Refuse’

2nd: Studio Kin-’The Night We Met’

3rd: Studio Kin-’Never Love Again’

Rookie Group

1st: Danceology-’Ladies Room’

2nd: Mather Dance Company-’Fabulous’

3rd: Danceology-’Kingdom’

Mini Group

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Hot Stuff’

2nd: Danceology-’Happy’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Searching For...’

Junior Group

1st: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Wind It Up’

2nd: Danceology-’Give Yourself In’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Over The Edge’

3rd: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Sing Sing Sing’

Teen Group

1st: Danceology-’Dream of Dreaming’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Heavenly Bodies’

3rd: West Coast School of the Arts-’All Coming Back’

Senior Group

1st: Mather Dance Company-’We The Soldiers’

2nd: Mather Dance Company-’For All We Know’

3rd: Studio Fusion-’Coconut’

3rd: Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre-’Those That Follow’

Open Group

1st: Community Dance Training-’The Place You Left’

Rookie Line

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Inanna’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Suite Tea’

3rd: Studio Kin-’SK Crew’

Mini Line

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’6 Out of Six’

2nd: Motion State Studios-’Sisters’

3rd: Danceology-’Time Passing’

Junior Line

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’All Good People’

2nd: Danceology-’Just Got Paid’

3rd: Danceology-’Backbone’

Teen Line

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Cadance’

1st: Danceology-’My Hands Are Always Cold’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Hey!’

3rd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Dark Winter’

3rd: Studio Kin-’Hustle’

Senior Line

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Prisoner’

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Voice of God’

2nd: Danceology-’It’s Weezy’

3rd: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’I’m The Hero’

Mini Extended Line

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Settle Down’

2nd: Danceology-’Ballroom Blitz’

3rd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Jump Jump!’

3rd: Danceology-’Mary Poppins’

Junior Extended Line

1st: Evoke Dance Movement-’Hold Your Own’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Better Than Ever’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Purse First’

Teen Extended Line

1st: Danceology-’Not Today Satan’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Adios’

3rd: Danceology-’Cha Cha Heels’

Senior Extended Line

1st: Danceology-’Above Below’

2nd: Danceology-’Burn Up The Dance’

3rd: Danceology-’Night Thirst’

Mini Production

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Mambo Baby’

Junior Production

1st: Danceology-’Rich Girl’

2nd: Danceology-’Blind Faith’

3rd: Danceology-’Level Up’

High Scores by Performance Division:

Rookie Jazz

1st: Danceology-’Ladies Room’ 2nd: Mather Dance Company-’Fabulous’ 3rd: Studio Kin-’Look Out Weekend’

Rookie Ballet

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Suite Tea’

Rookie Hip-Hop

1st: Studio Kin-’SK Crew’

Rookie Contemporary

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Inanna’ 2nd: Danceology-’Kingdom’

Rookie Lyrical

1st: Notion Dance Concepts-’Firework’

Mini Jazz

1st: Motion State Studios-’Sisters’ 2nd: Mather Dance Company-’Hot Stuff’ 3rd: Danceology-’Ballroom Blitz’

Mini Ballet

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’The Invitation’ 2nd: Danceology-’Scarf Dance’ 3rd: Danceology-’Polinaise’

Mini Hip-Hop

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Jump Jump!’ 2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Get Up’ 3rd: Studio Kin-’Pure Water’

Mini Tap

1st: Danceology-’Happy’ 2nd: Danceology-’Luck be A Lady’ 3rd: Danceology-’Word Up’

Mini Contemporary

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’6 Out of Six’ 2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Searching For...’ 3rd: Danceology-’Time Passing’ 3rd: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Fading Images’

Mini Lyrical

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Roar’ 2nd: Elite Dance and Performing Arts Center-’Beautiful Thing’ 3rd: Studio Kin-’Lighthouse’

Mini Musical Theatre

1st: Danceology-’Mary Poppins’ 2nd: Studio Kin-’Mean & Green’

Mini Ballroom

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Mambo Baby’ 2nd: Danceology-’Favorite Things’

Mini Specialty

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Settle Down’ 2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Salient’ 3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’I Think I Love You’

Junior Jazz

1st: Danceology-’Rich Girl’ 2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Purse First’ 3rd: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Wind It Up’

Junior Ballet

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Over The Edge’ 2nd: Danceology-’Paquita’ 3rd: Danceology-’Passarinjo’

Junior Hip-Hop

1st: Danceology-’Level Up’ 2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Lose Control’

Junior Tap

1st: Danceology-’Just Got Paid’

Junior Contemporary

1st: Danceology-’Blind Faith’ 2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’All Good People’ 3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Hold Your Own’

Junior Lyrical

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Anything Worth Holding’ 2nd: Mather Dance Company-’Salvation’ 3rd: Elite Dance and Performing Arts Center-’You Will Be Found’

Junior Musical Theatre

1st: Danceology-’Black Friday Fiasco’ 2nd: Elite Dance and Performing Arts Center-’Nicest Kids In Town’

Junior Specialty

1st: Evoke Dance Movement-’Better Than Ever’ 2nd: Danceology-’Backbone’ 2nd: Danceology-’Give Yourself In’ 3rd: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Sing Sing Sing’

Teen Jazz

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Shadow Work’ 1st: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Boom Pow’ 2nd: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Feeling Super Down’ 3rd: Murrieta Dance Project-’Sweet Melody’

Teen Ballet

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Dark Winter’

Teen Hip-Hop

1st: Studio Kin-’Hustle’ 2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Diva’ 3rd: Studio Kin-’All That Matters’

Teen Tap

1st: Danceology-’Mr. Blue Sky’

Teen Contemporary

1st: Danceology-’My Hands Are Always Cold’ 2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Hey!’ 3rd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Heavenly Bodies’

Teen Lyrical

1st: West Coast School of the Arts-’All Coming Back’ 2nd: Mather Dance Company-’Overdose’ 3rd: Mather Dance Company-’Out of Hiding’

Teen Musical Theatre

1st: Danceology-’Not Today Satan’ 2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Singular Sensation’ 3rd: Elite Dance and Performing Arts Center-’Footloose’

Teen Ballroom

1st: Danceology-’Cha Cha Heels’ 2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Movimento’

Teen Specialty

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Cadance’ 2nd: Danceology-’Dream of Dreaming’ 3rd: Danceology-’Passage’

Senior Jazz

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Prisoner’ 2nd: Danceology-’Night Thirst’ 3rd: West Coast School of the Arts-’How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?’

Senior Hip-Hop

1st: Danceology-’It’s Weezy’

Senior Contemporary

1st: Mather Dance Company-’We The Soldiers’ 2nd: Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre-’Those That Follow’ 3rd: Danceology-’Above Below’ 3rd: Studio Fusion-’Weight of Silence’

Senior Lyrical

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Voice of God’ 2nd: Mather Dance Company-’For All We Know’

Senior Specialty

1st: Studio Fusion-’Coconut’ 2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Terrified’

Senior Ballroom

1st: Danceology-’Burn Up The Dance’

Best of Radix:

Rookie

The Rock Center for Dance-’Inanna’

Danceology-’Ladies Room’

Mather Dance Company-’Fabulous’

Studio Kin-’SK Crew’

Notion Dance Concepts-’Firework’

Mini

The Rock Center for Dance-’6 Out of Six’

Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Fading Images’

Evoke Dance Movement-’Searching For...’

Danceology-’Happy’

Mather Dance Company-’Hot Stuff’

Motion State Studios-’Sisters’

Junior

Evoke Dance Movement-’Hold Your Own’

The Rock Center for Dance-’All Good People’

Danceology-’Rich Girl’

Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Wind It Up’

Mather Dance Company-’Anything Worth Holding’

Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Hey Hi Hello’

Motion State Studios-’Always, Forever’

 Murrieta Dance Project-’Luminous’

Teen

Academy of Nevada Ballet Theater-’The Great Realization’

Danceology-’Not Today Satan’

The Rock Center for Dance-’Hey!’

West Coast School of the Arts-’All Coming Back’

Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’The Need for One Another’

Studio Kin-’Hustle’

Murrieta Dance Project-’Memories’

Elite Dance and Performing Arts Center-’Change’

Mather Dance Company-’Overdose’

Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’No Ordinary Love’

Evoke Dance Movement-’Adios’

Senior

Mather Dance Company-’We The Soldiers’

Evoke Dance Movement-’Terrified’

Murrieta Dance Project-’Echos’

Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’I’m The Hero’

Danceology-’Above Below’

Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre-’Those That Follow’

Studio Fusion-’Coconut’

West Coast School of the Arts-’How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?’

Studio Standout:

Studio Kin-’Hustle’

Mather Dance Company-’We The Soldiers’

Evoke Dance Movement-’Adios’

Elite Dance and Performing Arts Center-’Change’

Danceology-’Not Today Satan’

Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’I’m The Hero’

The Rock Center for Dance-’Hey!’

[key-to-my-heart]

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

my name is kayla! my pronouns are she/her. i am seventeen years old and i’m a fan of the rainbow high doll line and web series! my original account was @jett-dawson but i decided to move here since that account was a secondary account (plus it was already so full, spammed and cluttered, i thought a new beginning would be nice for now)

i’ve been a fan of rainbow high since about july/august of 2020, thanks to a friend who shared the teaser trailer for the web series! i was very excited to hear about a new cartoon. i’ve never really experienced “new cartoon hype” so i immediately decided to join the (very, very small) fandom here on tumblr and instagram. i was very quick to make a blog here and begin making video edits on my instagram

you can find my edits on andershaws on IG

you can find my other rainbow high fan content on rainbow high archive on IG

INFO ABOUT ME

i’m a doll collector

i’m a beginner collector when it comes to dolls, and i most definitely don’t know everything about every doll line. i got back into dolls a little over a year ago with my childhood fav, monster high, but rainbow high really enhanced my love for collecting. i also collect a bit from ever after high, disney fairies, star darlings, barbie, etc. i want to try to get a few bratz and lol omg dolls as well! my collection is v small atm.

MY FAVOURITE OWNED DOLLS:

- Kia Hart from Rainbow High

- Amaya Raine Hair Studio from Rainbow High

- Krystal Bailey from Rainbow High

- Bella Parker from Rainbow High

- Basic Operetta from Monster High

- Kiyomi from Monster High

- Basic Darling Charming from Ever After High

- Basic Sage from Star Darlings

- Pretty Artee from Fail Fix

- Strawberry Shortcake Toys R Us Dolls

i post a lot of headcanons & ship content

i made headcanons over on @bellasparker but those will continue here under a certain hashtag (#myrainbowhighau). they get reposted over on my rainbow high archive instagram so you can always check out a prettier, edited version of them! the canon knowledge of the rainbow high characters is only so much, so i often make my own headcanons to add some interest! interacting with the fandom is usually fun, so i always try to be active here!

MY FAVOURITE SHIPS

- Andershaw (Ruby x Skyler)

- Jella (Jade x Bella)

- Sunraine (Sunny x Amaya)

- Flower Power (Poppy x Violet)

- Skymaya (Skyler x Amaya)

- Cotton Candy (Bella x Skyler)

- Peppermint (Jade x Ruby)

- Sunny Skies (Sunny x Skyler)

- Karmella (Karma x Stella)

- Crystal Heart (Krystal x Kia)

- Averley (Avery x Ainsley)

- Sprite (Jade x Sunny)

- Bellamaya (Bella x Amaya)

i have way more ships than these! as you can tell, i’m a mega multi shipper. i basically see potential in almost every (appropriate) pairing!

IMPORTANT

there is a problem with the rainbow high franchise. there is a serious issue with diversity (well, lack of diversity) in the doll line and it needs to be stopped. with diverse mga doll lines like bratz and lol surprise, why cant rainbow high be the same?

the racial issues can be seen in the whitewashing through the official artwork, the repeated eurocentric features, and most recently the new rainbow high merch

thankfully, the rainbow high web series seems to be doing its best with handling diversity. the very lovely casting director, Jenny Yokobori, is very cautious when casting actors and actresses for the characters of colour. she makes sure to have a diverse cast for the characters. the animators have also been giving the characters of colours their respective skin tones, unlike the official artwork.

another issue within the fandom (and doll lines in general) is sexualization. notorious artists like m/ntystr/p in the fandom have been known to not only whitewash these teenage girls but also put them in highly suggestive poses and outfits. they go so far as to add inappropriate commentary on their posts and in their hashtags. instances like these need to be stopped at once. listen to others when they say why and how this is wrong. spread the word to help avoid accidentally/unknowingly supporting people like this. stop the whitewashing and stop the sexualization.

[callowaysrose]

lilyshale asked: I didn’t know who else to call… - josie x sebas 

sebastian’s life had changed in the most dramatic of ways throughout the last couple of months. where he was married, his marriage life was not practically non-existent with no call, or no text from taylor. she needed her time, and he understood that. his work life? you know, employment at the one job he had wanted for as long as he knew? that was also non-existent. this, like much of everything was his own fault, the late arrivals, the smell of alcohol on his breath. he was everything a teacher, and new hire shouldn’t be. thankfully, the board understood that there were certain personal problems involved and therefore allowed him time off -- but there went his chance at a tenure. 

sometimes, loneliness hit him a little too fast. especially at times like this, when he sat on his mother’s couch and only had reruns of seinfeld to watch. his mom often told him to reach out to people, his therapist told him it was probably time -- oh yeah, that was new. therapy. nonetheless, he didn’t have a long list of people. taylor, who didn’t want to hear from him -- he was still expecting to be served with divorce papers.  logan and alexa who were probably god knows where.  that one lesbian chick who fell off the planet after he ruined her wedding.. what was her name again? bailey! and kayla? HA! she wanted his head on a stick last time he saw her, hell, she probably still did. and of course, there was josie. josie who was his best friend. josie who was always the on his list -- if not one of the first. after are you the one, she was always the one he saw first, who he called first, and that never changed, until recently that was. still, despite it all, despite what happened to them, he knew that if he called her, regardless of what it was, she’d pick up -- or at least he hoped that she would. he would. it’s the same reason he he picked up because it was josie, his best friend, she meant.. everything.

sebastian’s thoughts now triggered a memory as he thought about calling the blonde, “if your phone was on 1% battery and you were lost on a hiking trail, who would you call?” josie asked, “first of all, i would never be lost on a hiking trail, but for the sake of your question, you. because you’d pick up, because if i’m on the brink of danger and down to my 1% and can’t find my way out, i’d want the last voice i hear to be yours.. and because you know where all my personal shit is and i can’t trust lo with any of it.” the memory brought a smile to his face. so much had gone to shit and it was all his fault -- that much so was evident by the uncut, unshaven, unclean demeanor he had now taken upon himself to carry since the last time he saw either of the two women who meant more to him than anyone else. sebastian couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at what his life had become.

the man hadn’t exactly realized when he pressed the call button, but soon enough the ringing of the phone had caught his attention. it rang, rang two  or three seconds before he finally heard the voice on the other end. it was hesitant, that much was clear. “jos?” he started, clearing his throat, not expecting her to say much.  “i - sorry. i just.. i didn’t know who else to call”. sebastian stopped for a brief second, “i just.. i made a mess of things, josephine and i - i should have been honest. i should have been honest. i’m sorry.” 

[artificialqueens]

Ungodly Hour, Chapter One (Jaida x Nicky) - Scarlet Bloo

a/n: Hi! I started this fic back when the fic challenge was announced and here it finally is, (2?) months later, 3 days from the deadline. It’s been a ride, but I’ve finally gotten it to a place where I’m happy with it, and while not every chapter will posted during the challenge I’ve at least managed to get one in!

summary: Nicky is crushing hard on a bubbly soccer playing sorority sister. It’s unusual for her to ever be into anyone like this, and all she wants is to be on her radar. Popular girl Jaida is captain of the basketball team, and while she’s usually smart, French just isn’t her forte. Lucky for her, Nicky is a native speaker, so she makes it her mission to get her as her tutor. 

Challenge notes:

A large amount of the story is told from Jaida’s point of view. 

Close friends of the main characters: Widow, Heidi and Akeria (who will become more prominent characters in future chapters.)

The title is a song by Chloe and Halle Bailey. 

Nicky snuck a look in Jan Sport’s direction, her heart tingling as she absorbed her beauty. She sighed, knowing the preppy, popular sorority girl had absolutely no idea she even existed. It was laughable that she ever entertained the idea of a relationship with her, even if it was only in the late hours of the night, a fantasy to procrastinate her studies with. But with her long blonde hair, muscular arms and smiling eyes, how couldn’t Nicky be so intrigued by her? This was a new feeling. Nicky hardly ever found herself interested in anyone, let alone a woman. It was surreal to her, but it somehow felt right.

She cast her eyes away from Jan and tried to focus on the Professor at the front of the lecture hall. Unsurprisingly, it was nothing of value to Nicky. Miss Coulee was voicing her disappointment with the class after 70% of the class had gotten less than a C in the last exam. Nicky rolled her eyes, looking down at the big red “A!” circled on her own paper. Despite this achievement, she was regretting her decision to take French. Sure, it being her first language definitely made the classes easier, but left her so unsatisfied with how little she had to push herself to pass. 

“Of course you got an A”, Gigi whispered to Nicky. 

She had a defeated look on her face and Nicky felt a pang of sympathy for the girl. Gigi and Nicky weren’t close, but seeing as they’d been sitting next to each other every French lecture since September, they’d gotten to know a fair bit about each other. Like Nicky, Gigi was a fashion major but was taking French so she could “make it big in Paris one day” and Nicky knew academics wasn’t her strong suit. 

“Yeah well,” Nicky smiled sweetly, “French is my language, fashion is yours.”

Gigi seemed content with that answer and nodded satisfactorily as Coulee dismissed the class and all that could be heard was the snapping shut of laptops and notebooks and friendly chatter.

Jan lingered by the door giggling with her friends and Nicky’s gaze locked in on her like a missile. She was beautiful, and she could help but trace each curve of her body with her eyes. She felt her hands go clammy as she found herself lost in her animated expressions. Jan was different to Nicky’s image of a popular girl, she didn’t strut around campus like she owned the place or go through millions of relationships. She radiated positive energy and it just made Nicky all the more eager to get to know her. She wasn’t usually this into people, but Jan Sport had turned her into a pile of mush.

“You’re staring again.” Gigi’s teasing voice brought a blush to Nicky’s cheeks. She had caught her staring at Jan in awe on multiple occasions and was one of the very few people she’d actually admitted the crush to. The only other person who she’d told was her roommate and best friend, Widow. But her other friends? Definitely not. They were all art majors, and while Jan was taking music, it wasn’t really the same thing. Nicky guessed it made them the artsy crowd, and therefore substantially less popular. With the exception of Gigi and Widow, who had been in an on and off relationship with a soccer player since freshman year, Nicky’s friends spent lunch breaks talking as much shit as they could about Charles College’s elite. And it was somewhat justified. Most of the popular kids were complete pieces of shit. 

Case in point - Jaida Essence Hall, Charles College’s star athlete. The girl walked around like she owned the place, and Nicky guessed she kind of did. At the snap of a finger someone would appear at her side, eager to grant any and every wish. Or jump into her lap. Or stick their tongue down her throat. She didn’t look as confident as usual right then though, sitting fists curled around the edge of her paper in the lecture hall. Everyone else, including Coulee, had left, but Jaida remained in her seat. She must have failed the test too, but Nicky didn’t feel much sympathy for the girl. Charles college was best known for its Basketball, with its best players usually ending up in the pros, and during their years at Charles, they’d get handed everything on a silver platter. Maybe it was unfair, and a tiny bit vindictive, but Nicky got a sense of triumph from knowing that Coulee was failing the captain of the women’s basketball team along with everyone else. 

“Wanna grab something to eat?” Gigi asked as she gathered her books.

“Can’t, I have to finish up all of last week’s design work.” Nicky got up, but didn’t follow her to the door, “Go on ahead. I need to check the schedule before I go, I can’t remember when my next tutorial is.”

“Okay,” Gigi said, “I’ll see you later!”

“Later!” Nicky called after her. 

At the sound of her voice, Jan paused in the doorway and turned her head. It was impossible to stop the flush that rose in Nicky’s cheeks. This was the first time they’d ever made eye contact, and she didn’t know how to respond. In the end, she settled for a small nod of greeting. There. Cool, casual yet wouldn’t come off as rude. Her heart skipped a beat when the corner of Jan’s mouth lifted into a faint grin. She waved in response, and then she was gone. Nicky stared at the empty doorway. Her pulse exploded in a gallop. After six weeks of breathing in the same air in the stuffy lecture hall, Jan Sport had finally noticed her. She wished she was brave enough to go after her. Maybe ask her to grab a coffee. Or dinner. Or brunch - hell, is brunch even a big thing in America? But her feet stayed glued in place because she was a total coward. She was terrified she’d say no, but even more terrified she’d say yes. 

Nicky was in a good place when she started college. Her issues solidly behind her, her guard lowered. She was ready to date again, and she did. She dated several guys, but other than her ex, Kayla, none of them had been female, and none of them had made her body tingle the way Jan Sport did, and that freaked her out. 

Baby steps. That was her therapist’s favourite piece of advice, and she couldn’t deny that the strategy had helped her a lot. Focus on the small victories, Sasha had always advised. So, today’s victory, she nodded at Jan and she waved at her. Next class, maybe she’d wave back. And the one after that, maybe she’d bring up the coffee, dinner or brunch idea. She took a breath as she headed down the aisle, clinging to that feeling of victory, however miniscule it may be.

Jaida had failed. She’d fucking failed. For the last 15 years before she’d joined Charles College, they had handed out A’s like tic tacs. But the year she decided to take a French class? She had gotten stuck with Shea Coulee. It was official. This woman was her archenemy. Just the sight of her flowery handwriting—which filled up every inch of available space in the margins of Jaida’s midterm—made her want to scream, rip up the page, and leave education indefinitely. Jaida had been passing all her other classes, but this (almost ironic) F in French was completely bringing her average down. Normally, she had no problem keeping her G.P.A up. Despite what she knew a lot of Charle’s population believed, she wasn’t dumb. And the worst thing about Charles? Their dean demanded excellence—academically and athletically. While other schools were lenient toward athletes, Charles has a zero-tolerance policy. When she spoke to Coulee before class, she’d bluntly told her that unless she was going to find her own private tutor, she’d have no choice but to turn up to extra tutorials which overlapped with basketball practice. It really was a lose-lose situation.

 Jaida’s frustration manifested itself in the form of an audible groan, and from the corner of her eye, she saw someone jerk in surprise. Jaida jumped too, because here she thought she was wallowing in her misery alone. However, the girl from the back row had stuck around and was headed towards Coulee’s desk. Staci? Selena? Jaida couldn’t remember her name, probably because she’d never thought to ask for it before. She was pretty, though. A lot prettier than Jaida had ever realised. Perfect features, dark hair, a petite hourglass figure. How had she never noticed her before now? Her skinny jeans clung to a round, perky ass and her round breasts peaked slightly out of her v neck. 

“Everything okay?” the girl asked with a pointed look. Jaida murmured a reply under her breath. She really wasn’t in the mood to talk right then. 

The girl raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow in Jaida’s direction, “Sorry, was that english?” 

Jaida balled up her paper and scraped her chair back, “I said everythings fine.”

“Okay, then,” The girl shrugged and continued down the steps. As she picked up the clipboard that contained the tutorial schedule, Jaida flung on her jacked, then shoved her  pathetic midterm into her  backpack and zipped it up. The dark-haired girl headed back to the aisle. Sophie? Sabrina? The S sounded right, but the rest was a mystery. She had her midterm in hand, but Jaida didn’t sneak a peek because she assumed she failed just like everyone else.

Jaida let her pass before she stepped into the aisle. She followed her up to the exit, suddenly realizing how tiny she was compared to herself—she was one step below her yet could see the top of her head. Just as they reached the door, the girl stumbled on absolutely nothing and the books in her hand clattered to the floor.

“Shit. I’m such a klutz.”

She dropped to her knees and so did Jaida, because contrary popular belief, she wasn’t heartless, and the polite thing to do was help her gather her books.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I’m fine,” she insisted.

But Jaida’s hand had already connected with her midterm, and her jaw dropped when she saw her grade.

“Fucking hell. You aced it?”  Jaida demanded.

The girl gave a sweet smile. “Well, I am French. I thought you’d have been able to tell from the accent.”

“Holy shit.” Jaida felt like she’d just bumped into Coco fuckin’ Chanel and she was dangling the secrets to her  universe under her nose. “Can I read your answers?”

Her brows quirked up again. “That’s rather forward of you, don’t you think? We don’t even know each other.”

Jaida rolled her eyes. “I’m not asking you to take your clothes off, baby. I just want to peek at your midterm.”

“Baby? Goodbye forward, hello presumptuous.”

“Would you prefer miss? Ma’am maybe? I’d use your name but I don’t know it.”

“Of course you don’t.” She sighed. “It’s Nicolette. Nicky for short.” Then she paused meaningfully. “Jaida.”

Okay, she was way off on the S thing. And Jaida didn’t miss the way she emphasized her name as if to say, Ha! I know yours, bitch! Nicky collected the rest of her books and stood up, but Jaida didn’t hand over her midterm. Instead, she hopped to her feet and started flipping through it. As she skimmed her answers, her spirits plummeted even lower, because if this is what  Coulee was looking for, she was screwed. There was a reason she was a  geography major, for gods sake—she dealt in facts. Black and white. This happened at this time to this person and here was the result. Nicky’s answers focused on detailed analysis on texts Jaida couldn’t even translate in the first place. 

“Thanks.”  Jaida gave her the booklet, then cracked her knuckles. “Hey, listen. Do you…would you consider…” she  shrugged. “You know…”

Nicky’s  lips twitched as if she was  trying not to laugh. “Actually, I don’t know.”

Jaida let out a breath. “Will you tutor me?”

Her grey eyes—slightly green and surrounded by thick black eyelashes—went from surprised to skeptical in a matter of seconds.

“I’ll pay you,” Jaida added hastily.

“Oh. Um. Well, yeah, of course I’d expect you to pay me. But…” She shaked her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

Jaida bit back her disappointment. “C’mon, do me a solid. If I fail this makeup, my GPA will implode. Please?” She flashed a smile, the one that made her dimples pop out and never failed to make people melt.

“Does that usually work?” she asked curiously.

“What?“

“The winning innocent pageant girl smile… Does it help you get your way?”

“Always,” the taller girl answered without hesitation.

“Almost always,” Nicky corrected. “Look, I’m sorry, but I really don’t have time. I’m already juggling school and work, and with the winter showcase coming up, I’ll have even less time.”

“Winter showcase?” Jaida said blankly.

“Right, I forgot. If it’s not about basketball or your big pageants, then it’s not on your radar.”

“Now who’s being presumptuous? You don’t even know me.”

There’s a beat, and then she sighed. “I’m a fashion major, okay? And the arts faculty puts on two major displays every year, the winter showcase and the spring one. The winner gets a five thousand dollar scholarship. It’s kind of a huge deal, actually. Important industry people fly in from all over the country to see it. Fashion houses, investors, big magazines…. So, as much as I’d love to help you—”

“You would not,” Jaida grumbled. “You look like you don’t even want to talk to me right now.”

Her little you-got-me shrug was grating. “I have to go finish up some designs. I’m sorry you’re failing this course, but if it makes you feel better, so is everyone else.”

Jaida narrowed her eyes. “Not you.”

“I can’t help that I was born into a french speaking household.”

“Well, I want your help.”

Jaida was two seconds from dropping to her knees and begging her, but she edged towards the door. “You know there’s a study group, right? I can give you the number for—”

“I’m already in it,” Jaida muttered, embarrassed.

“Oh. Well, then there’s not much else I can do for you. Good luck on the makeup test. Baby.”

She darted out the door, leaving Jaida staring after her in frustration. Unbelievable. Everyone at this college would have cut their leg off to help her out. But this girl? Ran away like she’d just asked her to give up her first born so they could give it to Rumplestiltskin. And now  Jaida was right back to where she was before Nicky-not-with-an-S gave her that faintest flicker of hope. Completely fucking screwed.

[suedestars-blog]

❣ As many of our babies as you'd like tbh :)

SEND ME A ❣ AND I’LL GAUGE MY CHARACTER’S ATTRACTION TO YOURS AT THIS POINT IN TIME

kasey x amaka✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ | SEXUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | ROMANTIC ATTRACTION✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | CRUSHING✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | SQUISHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SENSUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | AESTHETIC ATTRACTION

autumn x cara✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ | SEXUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | ROMANTIC ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | CRUSHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ | SQUISHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SENSUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | AESTHETIC ATTRACTION

bailey x kayla ( hIS FUCKIN KWEEN )✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SEXUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | ROMANTIC ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | CRUSHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SQUISHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SENSUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | AESTHETIC ATTRACTION

leighton x ava ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SEXUAL ATTRACTION ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | ROMANTIC ATTRACTION ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | CRUSHING ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SQUISHING ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SENSUAL ATTRACTION ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | AESTHETIC ATTRACTIONxolani x zola✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ | SEXUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | ROMANTIC ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | CRUSHING✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | SQUISHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SENSUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | AESTHETIC ATTRACTIONeros x essie✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SEXUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | ROMANTIC ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | CRUSHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SQUISHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | SENSUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | AESTHETIC ATTRACTIONaustin x yara✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ | SEXUAL ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ | ROMANTIC ATTRACTION✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ | CRUSHING✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | SQUISHING✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ | SENSUAL ATTRACTION✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | AESTHETIC ATTRACTION

[timeundercanyonmoon]

When you wish you could star in a Taylor Swift music video...

...Ready For It? (Anna @holdsontothememories); End Game (Cassy @women-are-magical); I Did Something Bad (Audrey @actressstaringin-yourbaddreams); Don’t Blame Me (Nicole @staytreacherous); Delicate (Tricia @swiftytricia13); LWYMMD (Kayla @yousodope); So It Goes... ; Gorgeous (Natalie N. @nataliemarieandonecc); Getaway Car (Courtney @wiskeyonice); King of My Heart (Rachel @dustsoneverypage); DWOHT (Kaeleen @coffeeslorelai); Dress (Holly @holly-ground); TIWWCHNT (Morgan @texasdandeliondg & Natalie J. @njenkins3); CIWYW (Bailey @rep-ts); New Year’s Day (Olivia @kissesonswift)

Where we’ll be on October 5th & 6th (x) See you there @taylorswift @taylornation!

[hattie-morahan]

GateTheatre:

MORE CAST ANNOUNCED

We're so excited to have #HattieMorahan, Kayla Meikle (@kaylalalalaaa), Christopher Brett Bailey (@ct_bailey), @NinaB0wers, Christopher Green (@kit_green) and Lucy McCormick (@lucy_muck) joining the #DearElizabeth team!

BOOK: https://www.gatetheatre.co.uk/events/all-productions/dear_elizabeth … [x]

[wazafam]

The To All the Boys: Always and Forever cast features all of the regular franchise stars, so how do you know them? Based on Jenny Han's 2017 novel, the 2021 Netflix movie centers on the on-going romance between Lara Jean Covey and Peter Kavinsky. The Portland, OR, couple plans to attend Stanford University together, but a twist of fate forces them to confront the awkward truth of their situation.

In To All the Boys 3, Lara Jean lives a drama-free life before her senior year of high school. She enjoys a family trip to Korea and plans to attend Stanford with her boyfriend, Peter. After a school trip to New York City, however, Lara Jean feels drawn to the east coast, and must decide if she wants to remain in her native California. Directed by Michael Fimognari, To All the Boys 3 on Netflix follows Lara Jean as she reaches a life epiphany.

Related: Netflix: Every Movie and TV Show Releasing In February 2021

To All the Boys 3 primarily centers on the focal stars of the first two films. Whereas many romantic comedy films introduce side characters to complicate things, the third story about Lara Jean and Peter gets to the heart of their relationship. Here's a cast and character guide for To All the Boys: Always and Forever on Netflix.

Lana Condor stars as Lara Jean Covey, the franchise protagonist who gets rejected from Stanford University and realizes that NYU could be in her immediate plans for the future. Condor kicked off her movie career by portraying the superhero Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse and Li in Patriots Day. She also appeared as Koyomi in Alita: Battle Angel and voiced Casey McGarry in BoJack Horseman.

Noah Centineo co-stars as Peter Kavinsky, Lara Jean's popular boyfriend who is surprised when he gets accepted to Stanford University. Centineo portrayed Jamey in Sierra Burgess Is a Loser and Brooks Rattigan in The Perfect Date. He'll soon appear as Prince Adam/He-Man in Masters of the Universe and Ali Rothstein/Atom Smasher in Black Adam.

Janel Parrish portrays Margot Covey, Lara Jean's old sister who attends college in Scotland. Parrish portrayed Mona Vanderwaal in Pretty Little Liars and Estelle in Trespassers. She recently appeared as Maleah in Magnum P.I.

Related: The 25 Best Films on Netflix Right Now

Anna Cathcart appears as Kitty, Lara Jean's younger sister who becomes more interested in boys after a trip to Korea. Cathcart starred as Agent Olympia in Odd Squad and portrayed Tween Drizella in Once Upon a Time. She recently appeared as the title character in Zoe Valentine.

Ross Butler portrays Trevor, Lara Jean's confident classmate who shows romantic interest in one of her friends. Butler portrayed Zach Dempsey in 13 Reasons Why and Reggie Mantle in Riverdale. DCEU fans may know him as Super Hero Eugene from Shazam.

Related: All 27 2021 Netflix Movies Explained

Madeleine Arthur appears as Christine, Lara Jean's free-spirited friend who offers life advice. Arthur portrayed Older Jane in Big Eyes and Young Willa Warren in The Family. She also appeared as Fray in The Magicians and Nikki Genêt in Snowpiercer season 1.

Emilija Baranac portrays Gen, one of Lara Jean's classmates who gets accepted to NYU. Baranac portrayed Midge Klump in Riverdale and Jamie in Beyond.

Trezzo Mahoro portrays Lucas, Lara Jean's classmate who plans to attend Sarah Lawrence on the east coast. Mahoro portrayed Ralphia in The Magicians and Mohamed in Van Helsing. He recently appeared as Joker in Operation Christmas Drop and Geke in The Right One.

Sarayu Blue appears as Trina Rothschild, the love interest of Lara Jean's father. Blue portrayed Emet in I Feel Bad, Kareema in No Tomorrow, and Marcie in Blockers. She also appeared as Ana in The Unicorn.

Related: Best Movies On Netflix Right Now

John Corbett rounds out the main cast as Dr. Dan Covey, Lara Jean's father who plans to get re-married. Corbett portrayed Chris Stevens in Northern Exposure and starred as Ian Miller in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He also appeared as Lars Hammond in Serendipity - one of the movies referenced by Lara Jean in To All the Boys: Always & Forever.

Sofia Black-D'Elia (Above) as Heather: Gen's NYU friend. Sofia Black-D'Elia portrayed Andrea Cornish in The Night Of and Tirzah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur.

Henry Thomas as Mr. Kavinsky: Peter's estranged father. Henry Thomas famously starred as Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and recently portrayed Henry Wingrave in The Haunting of Bly Manor.

June B. Wilde as Joan: A waitress. June B. Wilde portrayed Edna in Young & Reckless and Colleen Holmstrom in The Exorcist TV series.

Ho-Young Jeon as Dae: Kitty's love interest in Seoul. To All the Boys: Always and Forever on Netflix marks the movie debut for Ho-Young Jeon.

Ese Atawo as Ms. Beckman: A chaperone. Ese Atawo portrayed Detective Frankie Curtis in The Flash and Dr. Imani Jackson in Firefly Lane.

Rhianna Jagpal as Dipti Shaw: Lara's classmate who requests paperwork for the senior trip to New York. Rhianna Jagpal portrayed Yasmin in Mech-X4 and Hilary Saint in Motherland: Fort Salem.

Molly Grace as Mollie Marshall: Lara's classmate who receives a prom invitation through an umbrella-themed dance performance. Molly Grace made her movie debut as Young Charlotte in The Perfection on Netflix, and was credited as "Crying Girl" in To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.

Momona Tamada as Young Lara Jean: Momona Tamada portrayed Kazu's great-granddaughter in The Terror season 2 and stars as Claudia Kishi in The Baby-Sitters Club.

Rian McCririck as Young Peter: Rian McCririck had a small role in Good Boys and recently appeared as Logan Bruno in The Baby-Sitters Club.

Jenny Han as Principal Cho: Jenny Han is the author of the To All the Boys book series.

Linda Ko as Aunt Carrie: Linda Ko portrayed Marie in Stargate: Atlantis and Genera Nessa Clary in Motherland: Fort Salem.

Julie Tao as Haven: Julie Tao portrayed Jillian in Charmed and Cleo in Motherland: Fort Salem.

Joey Pacheco as Owen Kavinsky: Joey Pacheco portrayed Young Erik in Menendez: Blood Brothers.

Jara Zeimer as OMG Girl: Jara Zeimer portrayed Klaudia Wegener in The Man in the High Castle and Teen Velma in iZombie.

Kelcey Mawema as Emily: Kelcey Mawema portrayed Ana in The Exorcist season 2 and Gabrielle in Deadly Class.

C. Ernst Harth as Alder Principal: Ernst Harth portrayed Harold Shelburne in Thir13en Ghosts and Lowell Lee Andrews in Capote.

Michael Delleva as Daniel: Michael Delleva portrayed one of Santa's helpers in Noelle on Disney+ and Ari Berlin in When the Streetlights Go On.

Anisha Cheema as Valentine's Girlfriend: Anisha Cheema portrayed Patrice in iZombie and Morgan in The Mirror.

Susie Lee as Eva Song Covey: Susie Lee portrayed Elizabeth in Supernatural and Mrs. Marshall in Lost in Space.

Rish Shah as Ravi: Rish Shah portrayed Ahmed in Years and Years and will soon appear as Kamran in Ms. Marvel.

Kayla Deorksen as Angela: Kayla Deorksen portrayed Erica Bailey in Supernatural and Mrs. Anderson in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Janelle McDermoth as Nisha: Janelle McDermoth portrayed Detective Peterson in Blue Bloods and Aleah Brown in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Jerry Yang as Nathan: Jerry Yang portrayed Ian the Patron in The Flash and Horizen LA Retail Guy in Upload on Amazon Prime.

Lisa Durupt as Gayle Kavinsky: Lisa Durupt portrayed Nurse Fleming in Psych and Jen McMurtry in Heartland.

Katie Do as Ani: Katie Do portrayed Esme in Mrs. Fletcher and Isla in Manifest.

Next: Will To All The Boys 4 Ever Happen?

To All The Boys 3: Always & Forever Cast & Character Guide from https://ift.tt/3aeo79u