Bleed the Fifth - Poster True Blood Season 5
original:trueblood fbk
businessupfrontandpartyintheback:
Ash laughed loudly at the thought. He could sense that they were both feeling weirdly nostalgic, and that they both really wanted to avoid that weirdness. Well, he was up for that.
“All set,” He said, holding up the fireworks and grinning mischeviously. ”Let’s light ‘em up!”
He ran back into the open field with Pam, feeling unbelievably hazy and good. Everything felt just right. This buzz, this night, his best friend, these fireworks, everything. Sappy as it was, he’d happily freeze this moment and live in it forever.
“Watch out!” He shouted a warning to the others, even though they were a good distance away from them at this point. Their friends didn’t seem entirely clear on what was happening, but they backed up all the same, most of them tripping over each other and laughing. It was that kind of night for all of them.
Ash lit the first firework up and bolted for it, dragging Pam along with him and tackling her to the ground, laughing, as brilliant gold light lit up the sky, and booms echoed through the night. He rolled onto his back to watch the fireworks go off and let out an incoherent shout of triumph.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Pam whispered once she caught her breath after being tackled to the ground. She watched in amazement as Ash’s artwork lit up the sky.
The silence stretched comfortably for a few moments. “You’re the best friend I’ve got too, ya know. Thanks for making high school a blast.” One last firework finally struck its ignition, and as its flames trickled across the night sky, Pam nodded to herself. “…Literally. This is what it’s all about.”
businessupfrontandpartyintheback:
Ash raised an eyebrow at Pam. Not in a sarcastic way, not even mildly. It was only out of curiousity. ”Thought you just said there wasn’t any end in sight for us,” He said, grinning at her a little lopsidedly. He reckoned it was a worry all of them were having, whether or not they were talking about it.
“Hell yes, we’re going big. We’ll light up this whole fuckin’ summer,” Ash grinned, still at work on his fireworks. ”And you’re the best, too, Barnes. Best friend I ever had,” he said, not looking at her as he finished up the fireworks. He wasn’t getting into any of this sappy stuff, not when they were about to blow shit up. He wasn’t going to get down on Pam. He had the feeling they both didn’t need that right now. They weren’t weepy drunks, and they weren’t about to start to be either.
“I don’t mean you and me, genius. I solemnly swear we’ll be up to no good until we’re too shriveled to walk. And even then… Hell, we’ll probably even cause a ruckus in the afterlife. No, I mean as an entire group. Even I can’t predict the next time we’ll all be in Lawrence at the same time once this summer’s over.”
She couldn’t believe the shit she was saying. Some weird nostalgia prom essence must have managed to slip into their anti-prom, which didn’t feel right.
“In my defense, Jack Daniels does have a tendency to cloud the inner eye. Plus, Dean and Cas will probably have some sex nest that they’ll never want to leave for the rest of their lives. Can you imagine? All of our future big reunions will have to be held in whatever kinky setup they end up inhabiting,” she threw her head back and giggled at the thought. “So just in case, I still suggest making tonight an extra special one to remember. You almost done? I’m ready to light some shit up!”
businessupfrontandpartyintheback:
Ash watched Pam drinking. There was something going on in that head of hers, he could see it. She was having one of her not-quite-visions, she was working something out. She always got this way when she was.
He took another long drink as she did. He and Pam had never been two to push each other for anything; they were the most patient ones in the group. Where Jo mothered everyone and Dean exploded and Castiel bled, Pam and Ash were the ones able to hold back. He wasn’t going to push her for anything now. If she wanted to talk, she would.
He smirked over at her. ”Bet there is. Whaddaya say, Barnes? Let’s light this prom up.” He winked, took Pam’s hand and tugged her towards the shop.
There was definitely enough in there to assemble some simple fireworks, and he got to work on them right away.
“Helllll yessss” Pam screamed, tearing off her heels and running towards the building with Ash. No questions asked with him. None of the “are you sure”s and “that sounds like a bad idea”s she might get from other people. When one of them had a ridiculous idea, the other had their back. That mindset had landed them in some pretty precarious situations over the past few years, but it always made the most lasting memories.
“See, this right here is why you’re the fuckin best,” she said, shaking her head in amazement as Ash turned automotive scrap into fireworks. “And who knows how many more nights we’ll all have together as a group? Go big or go the fuck home, in my opinion.”
businessupfrontandpartyintheback:
“I know better’n to bet against a psychic,” Ash laughed, pouring a generous helping of whiskey into Pam’s cup. ”And I’m happy to share with you, as always, P. Barnes, especially on this joyous occasion.”
He stopped pouring when there was a healthy amount in her cup, and lifted the bottle to his lips to take another long sip. Damn, this felt good.
“And hey, we still have the whole summer, right?”
He took another swig before realizing he’d said that last part out loud. He wanted to hope Pam would be too buzzed to notice, but Pam noticed everything.
Pam narrowed her eyes in Ash’s direction over the rim of her dixie cup as she took a long swig.
“Summer?” she finally coughed out, choking on the whiskey burning down her throat. She had to wipe a dribble of booze from her chin before continuing, “you think we only have one ‘whole summer’ left in us? Buddy, you can’t get rid of me that easy. I’d start prepping your liver for a lifetime of wild summers. And other months. And probably forever.” She definitely still felt her head swimming, but pressed on. “Like, if you think hiding at MIT will get you out of our annual porn and pizza tradition, you are WRONG my friend.”
Pam had to turn her eyes to the ground to take her next swig. She couldn’t be sure how many of her words were directed at Ash, and how many were for her own peace of mind. Truth was, Ash had always been a bit blurry to her. She could see some aspects of the present and future with such clarity, the world almost seemed boring at times.
Ash had always been harder to read than others. And quite frankly, it had always made him more fun to hang out with; he had a tendency to surprise her. But Pam couldn’t be sure if MIT would change him or not. They’d either wear him down or kick him out, and both possibilities displeased her.
Plus, if he was the one hiding, she was the one running. And where it lead either of them, Pam couldn’t be sure. Uncertainty struck Pam as an adrenaline rush whenever she experienced it, but for the first time there was some fear behind it. Fear of drifting away from her best friend after this summer was over.
Well she’d be damned if that ever happened.
“How about giving this night a proper send off? Bet there’s enough stuff in the shop for you to build some fireworks, Mr. Science?”
businessupfrontandpartyintheback:
Ash let his head fall back in what felt like slow motion and laughed, bottle of Jack hanging loosely, lazily, from his left hand. He loved this feeling. Everything felt just disconnected enough. He felt happy and light.
A brief pang hit him when he realized that this time, high school would really end. Where would they be, a year from right now?
Then he looked around him. He looked at Dean and Castiel, so wrapped up in each other. Jo and Bela, laughing over some inside joke in their open, honest, unreserved way. Maddy, spinning around crazily, her hair fanning out all around her. At Sam, who was letting Becky stand on his feet while he danced. At Ava and Andy, arm wrestling, apparently. Gwen, actually smiling, and Lane actually smiling back. And he realized, yeah, this was where they’d be a year from now. Right here. Nothing could tear this group apart.
He managed to drag himself to his feet and grinned over at Pam, who was shaking her hair and laughing in time to the music.
“Yo, P. Barnes,” He grinned, bumping his elbow against her, because tonight, there was nowhere he wanted to be more than with his best friend.
Ash’s elbow jab was enough to return Pam to the rest of the world. She’d been lost in her own little world; head swimming in the good music, the nice alcohol buzz, and peaceful atmosphere.
“Hey Doc,” she said with a smile. ”I’d ask if your super senior prom was super enough for you, but you don’t need to be a psychic to know that our anti-prom was worlds better than whatever lame scene turned up at the ~school sanctioned prom~. Ten bucks says Lisa Braeden drank too much and threw up on an ice sculpture,” her laugh as she said it had a bite of menace to it. “Although I don’t recommend taking that bet. I am a psychic afterall.”
She thrust her empty cup in the direction of Ash’s whiskey bottle. “Refill, Doc? I’ve got an itch that only liquor and its resulting shenanigans can scratch.”
