Party Time - Tyler tag Jasper, any at the party

[Tyler Durnham]

Having a Cuban with Jasper on the balcony wasn’t something Tyler would have knocked back, especially if his rather cute sister tagged along. After all, as his father had always said, a Cuban wasn’t smoking, a Cuban was an experience. But, it seemed like the pleasure would have to wait, Jasper obviously no longer in the pleasant mood he seemed to be in just moments before. Tyler couldn’t blame him, an exploding cake at your birthday party was the sort of thing that could get some people annoyed.

Being hit by the cake didn’t bother Tyler in the slightest though, the back of his jacket having borne most of the cake that had headed his way. But still, it wasn’t his party, and nothing of his couldn’t be easily replaced, he had the money after all, so he only found it a slight disturbance, a rather funny one at that. Jasper didn’t seem to be in the laughing mood, so he kept such thoughts to himself.

Except when it came to Riley. As Jasper ranted, his eyes searching the room for any culprits, Tyler’s eyes met hers very briefly and he reached over to wipe off a little bit of icing that found itself stuck to her cheek, before licking his finger clean. “Mmm, chocolate. One of my favourites.” he flirted with an amused smile on his face.

But as much fun as it would have been to continue flirting with the beautiful girl, Tyler had someone to at least attempt to calm down, if he was to make a good impression on the Hastings. After all, they ran in the same circles, having them as friends, as further connections wouldn’t hurt his situation. His father had always told him to network more.

A rather frumpy looking girl walked passed with a tray of champagne, and Tyler quickly took a glass to hand to Jasper. “Listen to your sister. We’ll find whoever did this.” He mused, glancing around. “Though, it seems some of your guests are actually enjoying event. Just think of it this way Jasper, your party will be unforgettable, and in a good way, perhaps.”

[pinky]

Kaylie had been embarrassed when she backed into someone, but she was even more so when the conversation continued as if she wasn't there. Apparently she was insignificant enough that she didn't even rate a notice by someone she had bumped into. She moved away from the boy tempted to slap him just to relieve the emotional build up, but decided that would be too odd and she would be better off if they never even realized she had been there.

The package in her hands reminded her of her quest and figuring the presents were probably in the general vicinity of the pile of goo that used to be a cake, Kaylie headed that way, stepping around partying students and clumps of confections. She found the presents which were now covered in frosting and set her offering in a relatively safe spot, not sure how electronics would deal with powdered sugar and milk.

Now without goal Kaylie stood and watched the various groups and wondered if they really knew each other. There seemed to be that elusive awkwardness that existed among their class where people wouldn't admit they weren't best friends with everyone in the room but yet they had no idea who they really were. She rolled her eyes and looked at her watch trying to decide if it was too early to call the driver to pick her up again.

She had only been there about fifteen minutes so she really couldn't escape yet. Noting that some of the people were dancing, she began to dance as well, at least she wouldn't be totally bored. A musician and a dancer, this was at least something she wouldn't make a fool of herself with. Kaylie flowed into the rhythm of the somewhat odd music and forgot how annoyed she was.

[Brad Dawson]

BJ stared at the chocolate cake that now dressed his clothes, "Great, pink with chocolate." BJ said mildly annoyed. "And I'm not even allowed to eat it." BJ said as he grabbed serviettes to clear the mess up.

"We booked a limo." BJ said to him. "It was a matter of do we want to drive back or drink." BJ said to him. "I live in Hollywood itself so its not like its far to go, but it would spoil a night if I couldn't drink." BJ admitted tossing the serviettes into the bin and inspecting his shirt and clothes.

"He doesn't look that happy." BJ said pointing to Jasper though he didn't know who it was. "Though I guess if it were his birthday I wouldn't be to happy either." BJ said as Alex came over.

"Alex Edwards meet Greg Meyers." BJ said to him as Alex handed him another drink. "I'm not quite finished with this one Alex." BJ said to him. "Anyone would think you like getting me drunk." BJ said to him.

"Hey its not my fault your funny when your drunk." Alex said.

"What you mean to say is you think I'm funny when I'm camp." BJ said.

"So your a gate crasher to, well we aren't alone." BJ said to Greg.

[Melodee Riker]

It was a poor observer who didn’t notice the awkward, but chic girl who’d come in approximately twenty minutes ago. Pre-cake explosion. Melodee had been splattered with some of the chocolate icing, and was none-too pleased about it, but had managed to control the damage to her red hair and made-up face. It was just as well the cake had gone ‘boom’ now she didn’t have to make an excuse not to eat it.

This new girl, however. This chic girl who knew how to dress and accessorize to match… she needed to be watched. Could possible be brought into Mel’s inner circle. Possibly. The girl had guts, that was for sure, going out and dancing on her own, even after bumping into someone else without so much as an acknowledgement from the other.

Welcome to California, Melodee thought at her with a twitch of a smile on her lips. You have to be more assertive than that if you’re going to get their attention. Let’s see how well you deal with the elite shall we?

Replacing the tiny, coy smile with a broader, more welcoming one, Melodee grabbed two drinks and managed to find herself next to this girl in what would, on anyone else, look like a school girl costume.

“God, it’s hot out here!” She called over the music with a laugh holding out the punch cup.

Her own dress and accessories screamed of money, but that was the point. She was Melodee Riker. Daughter of the Culinary Goddess Ginger Riker of international fame. Every girl wanted to be her, every boy wanted to be with her, some girls too for that matter. And why wouldn’t they? Flawless skin, red hair that was always perfect (at least that was the only way Melodee would let anyone see her. She refused to be witnessed at less than her best, and was secretly glad her incident on the beach a month and several days ago had not been mentioned again.)

For all appearances Melodee was welcoming. The truth of the matter was that she WAS welcoming this fashionable new girl into the world, her world. In her own way, but she was also sizing her up. Mel wasn't about to lose her status simply because she wasn't paying attention.

"I don't think I've seen you around before," she called again over the overlapping songs of weirdness. "I'm Melodee." She was careful to bob along to the tune without spilling either drink. Hopefully the other girl would accept the second as the introduction offering it was meant to be.

[pinky]

Kaylie's lips curved into a friendly smile and accepted the cup of punch, managing not to spill it either. "Hi Melodee, I'm Kaelyn Alden. I've been going to private school out East, but now I'm here cause my parent's want me home at the moment. Do you go to Silver or Gould?" she asked, glad to meet someone who seemed friendly. She was still getting used to the two schools and how they seemed to mingle, but then not completely. She thought Melodee looked somewhat familiar, perhaps a relative of someone she ought to know.

"Interesting music," she said, as they phased into another obscure song that was fun but not something she had ever heard before. Not that she was that knowledgeable about modern music. She enjoyed it, but she tended to focus on classical and new age music, things she could play on her cello. Kaylie took a sip of the punch, blinking a bit at the taste of alcohol, but managing not to cough or spit it out or anything else embarrassing.

She smiled wider and looked around in interest and saw one boy actually eating cake off the presents. "Are the parties here all like this?" she asked wondering how Jasper's parents could allow this. Her parent's servants would quite if they had to clean a place in this condition.

[Melodee Riker]

How freely this girl Kaylie gave up the information Melodee had been prepared to fish for. How easy she made it. A private school back east, New York, perhaps? Florida? The only real state of any consequence, as far as Melodee was concerned, was New York, but there were well to do people in the others, hiding away from the prying eyes they would rather not deal with.

“It is interesting music, but hardly to Jasper’s taste. There seem to be prankster’s about, mind you clothes,” Though her mother had concocted a wonderful way to get chocolate stains out of even silk, Mel wasn’t willing to risk her dress, shoes, or hair again. Her nose wrinkled slightly at the sight of the boy eating off the presents. Hardly behavior fitting someone of his presumed status.

“Not all the parties are like this, some are wilder, others far more tame. More often than not people show up to rub elbows with others they normally wouldn’t try to speak with.” Mel shrugged, a gesture that normally would look ridiculous or forced on some people seemed to flow as a dancer’s steps might on the thin frame of the red-head.

“I attend Gould, though only recently. Mother and I moved back after the earthquake, but the studio’s were glad to have her again. Before then I we were in New York.” Taking a sip from her own punch, and deftly avoiding being jostled by the other dancers, while still maintaining a minimum of dance effort herself, Mel glanced sideways at Kaylie again. Cute, good sense of style, so far a decent conversationalist.

“Are you enjoying California so far? The party?”

[Riley Hastings]

"So, sorry--Jazz has a bit of a temper," Riley said to Tyler in a low voice. Looking around, the reactions of everyone seemed to be rather mixed. A lot of people were quite upset, but some like herself and Tyler didn't think it was such a big deal.

Smirking Riley turned to her brother once more, suddenly thinking of something that she knew would cheer him up. "Jazz, you know, is it really such a big deal that the cake exploded? I mean the cleaning service with clean the room--you can stay in my room or get another suite for the night. And as for your clothes--you can always just buy new ones." She knew her brother would like the sound of that. A nice reminder that they had money once more. That's what Jasper needed to be put back in a good mood.

[Jasper Hastings]

Upon hearing his sisters words, Jasper's mood did lighten. Even if it was just slightly. "You're right," he said, in a more calm tone. Even his face and body seemed to be relaxing a bit. "I would still like to get whoever did this though," he admitted. "But I suppose they just wanted to ruin my party and I won't let that happen," he declared. He wiped some cake off of his shoulder.

Fighting the urge to change, he looked back at Tyler. "Let's go have that smoke," he said. "I could use a Cuban after this and then I'll deal with whoever did this," he said, looking around the room once more. Seeing a few people hovering by the door and looking out of place, he decided that the one's who hadn't dressed right for the occasion must have done this. He made a mental note to ask Aly to identify them for him. He'd get them back. He'd make sure of it. No one messed with Jasper after all.

However, for now, he'd let it go. It was his birthday. He'd gotten his trust fund today. It was supposed to be the best day of his life. And he planned to enjoy it.

[Tyler Durnham]

Tyler just grinned brightly as Riley attempted to apologise for her brother’s behaviour. She was very beautiful, he particularly enjoyed the slight curve at the edges of her lips, and she seemed interesting, refined, sophisticated. Which was no surprise really, they obviously belonged to the same crowd. He would have to find out a little more about hers, and her brother’s, story. Two new allies, two new contacts, would come in handy. Gould was sorely lacking in his kind after all. And a few of the girls there he had already dated still had him in their sights for some sort of a long term relationship, hooking up with them, no matter how brief or casually, could just encourage them further.

“Sounds good to me. Like your sister said before, we’ll find who did this, and the room will be taken care of. Besides, if the pranksters intention was to ruin your party, they failed. It’s kicking on well and truly, if anything, this just made things more lively. But, come, lets smoke.” he offered with a grin, pulling out a box of matches from his jacket pocket. Turning his head slightly to wink at Riley, he patted Jasper’s shoulder, leading him towards the balcony. “So Jas, lot of women here. Any, or all, of them after you?” he asked, his laugh booming around the room.

[pinky]

Kaylie listened to Melodee, interested as she knew nothing of any of the people there. "Oh I have lived in Santa Monica all my life... I only go to school in Connecticut. I go, I mean went, to Taft, it is an arts school. I am not sure how I am going to handle being in a primarily academic school. I do all right, but it has never been my main focus before," she said, open as usual.

Checking her clothing at Melodee's warning, Kaylie was glad to find she had managed to miss being hit by exploding cake. She finished her drink and set it down on the nearest horizontal surface. "I like California a lot, but with the fine arts focus I am really going to miss being only an hour or two from Broadway and the other venues that I used to go to alot on weekends." Kaylie realized she had been babbling on about herself.

"What kind of things do you like to do Melodee?" she asked, focusing her brilliant blue eyes on the other girl with only the slightest bit of difficulty after the drink.