Btw, this includes some of my OCs I've been using since I first started writing for FoP. Just for those who might be new to my stories. For those who follow around, heyyyy, you already know that.
DoggPocky: Honestly, he probably did. Cosmo is too whipped for his own good, lol.
TriceTokushu: If Wanda doesn't stop, she's really gonna peer into lowkey emotional cheating. I guess that's how we roll here, now. I really do have to plan around the events of 'Taken', huh. LITERALLY NONE of my stories are in chronological order, whatsoever. It's a huge fucking mess.
acorntree1: Thank you! The 'having the rest of the world eyes closed' really was an impulse, I was trying to find some kinda way to explain it and I'm glad that worked. I think it's nice also to see them as friends first, there aren't too many fics with them like that but the ones that do exist are so good and there should be way more.
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Students of the west entryway of the high school's quarters wandered about aimlessly, whether they cared to get to class soon or didn't. Many entered in groups by the wing's entrance as a pink fairy came in after a group of AV Jocks ahead of her with her backpack slung over one shoulder as she wandered with a particular person to look out for. Sporting a cropped v-neck yellow cardigan with a short pink pleated skirt, as well as brown knee-high lace-up boots with yellow stockings just bordering over her knee. A gold hair claw held back a portion of her pink curls that just went past her shoulders. The young fairy scooted through other familiar students, giving a smile and wave to a few who knew her nearby who acknowledged her before coming forth to where she would discover a fellow fairy looking down at today's due homework by her open locker.
"Sage," Wanda called for the other fairy's attention, causing ice blue eyes to look up benevolence.
"Hey, hey. What it be?" Sage greeted and Wanda grinned through a giggle. The icy blue-eyed fairy fitted her same-color short bob in usual ironed waves, parted through the middle with one side clipped back by a jeweled barrette that framed her pale heart-shaped face. She sported a navy blue off-the-shoulder smock top and a black pleated skirt with a white zipper stripe on the trim. As well as white platform high-top sneakers as she propped against the lockers in waiting.
Sage was very much 'in-crowd' as Wanda was, but it didn't subside her uniqueness. Having been best friends since grade school, the two entered high school's superficial wave together. Sage relatively had a large voice that caught people's attention, a party-animal nature, a general quick tongue, and an asset to things such as cheerleading. In the so-called 'popular' world of cliques, that was enough points for an in. Although, it didn't mean that Sage's quick and loud tongue was always necessarily for those they associated with. Sometimes against even. Maybe she just liked to call out the bull on account of her and Wanda's sake.
"I still can't believe I scored a C in Wishology." Sage said, her voice dropping from a pout as she put her stuff away and gathered her books for the first two periods. "And you got a damn A, we wrote on the same subject!"
Wanda leaned against the locker neighbor to Sage's. "Last time you ask me for homework advice?"
"Ne-ver." The blue fairy disagreed quite clearly. "I barely could keep up with what we were talking about because of the project the week before. Who does he think he is assigning that 'ish back-to-back with an essay?"
"I dunno, Mr. Petallake takes no baloney I guess."
"I'll give him something he can't take," the angered fairy slammed her locker shut with her books held against her hip, beginning to float with her best friend to her own locker.
"Easy, tigress." Wanda said, poking fun at Sage's quite entertaining anger. She had a way of putting on a show whenever pissed. "It won't affect your grade point that much, anyway."
"Yeah, I'm done." Sage said, ready to move on from a haunting subject.
"My piano got canceled today," Wanda mentioned. "Wanna go get a smoothie or something after school?"
"Oh hell yeh," Sage said. "Sounds good."
"Also, um." Random nerves suddenly ran up Wanda's spine. "You wanna switch seats at lunch today?"
"Where? At Juan's table?" Sage asked, a little defiant at the thought of Luther making some stupid or sexist joke towards Sage just to ruffle up her feathers. She didn't think she could tolerate sitting next to that today when already angry.
"No," Wanda said. "You know Cosmo? We wanted to meet in the caf at some point during lunch."
Sage fluffed the back of her bob. "Homeboy from the diner, right?"
"That's the one."
It was firmly considered by her friend. Not because she didn't want to but it definitely wasn't their usual lunch arrangement. "Sure why not, we can make a leave partway through."
"Cool."
"Before we do though, Juniper has some important message for all of us."
News less to be excited about as Wanda's brow slanted in annoyance. "Awesome.."
Sage snorted.
While ease came in being by her closest friend, it didn't shield Wanda from everything in school and home-life. Sage only had so much ice to put out the fires in her best frined's life, and it wouldn't be good for Wanda to depend so much on Sage without fending for herself. She's learned that from the mother who passed that she could no longer lean on.
Sitting with Cosmo sounded like some of the most exciting news to look forward to in a long time. No amount of excitement could hold a candle to it. Things might go awry with the rest of the friend group upon Wanda and Sage's new plans, and the pink fairy knew that. Juandissimo was already fine with the friendship, even if that didn't really stop him from Luther's torment of Cosmo. Wanda never appreciated that Juandissimo simply said it wasn't his business to deal with when meathead Luther had been picking targets since first year. It's not like Luther took Wanda seriously enough to listen to her to stop. The only person well enough for the jockhead to listen to would probably be his somewhat-girlfriend, occasional hookup Juniper Cloudswell that Wanda was closer to amongst the girls. She probably wouldn't lift a finger for Cosmo though.
If Wanda was so excited about this, why be scared along with it? The fact that she was so scared...
...really showed the stupidity of some things to her only now.
Shamrock green eyes under the same shaggy hair wandered about as the student entered the east entryway of his high school. Traveling up some concrete steps by the lifting of his wings to open double doors leading into a hallway's quarters of lockers. Every step he floated up Cosmo looked closer at the vinyl 'welcome back' sign that was still up even almost three weeks after the new school year started. He dressed in his white zip-up hoodie over a green tee, assorted with dark blue jeans and matching green chuck taylors. Nearing the top of the steps, the student was about to make his way in.
"And so, Cozzie da' man wonders greatly,"
Cosmo's brace-face widened and looked to the wall connecting to the concrete steps and the school's building. Propped atop it sat a fellow student shooting a palm-sized camera Cosmo's way as he narrated. His face was slightly pointed in a pale peachy color with a large bridged nose and he had hair of yellow curls in a high fade underneath an orange beanie sagged on the back of his head, assorted with movie and music pins along the rim. Decked in blue jeans and purple chucks with a black graphic t-shirt of a film festival titled Fairy Film underneath an opened grey plaid flannel. He held the camera to one eye as the other squinted for a better view, zooming in on Cosmo's amused face.
"Why a jolly boy like him is this week's special on 'Lives of the Undiscovered'?"
Cosmo blinked from the sun beaming down, continuing to eye his best friend above. "Lives of the Undiscovered?"
The yellow-haired fairy snapped closed the flip screen of his camera, tangerine eyes looking downwards. "New project I'm trying out. Doesn't hurt dishing out dirt."
The fairy bellow blinked. "Dirt out of what?"
His friend hopped off, floating down to his level. "Nevermind, something to distract me in homeroom with. I was hoping you could be my guinea pig."
Cosmo pouted. "Aw, man! I don't wanna do transfiguration in homeroom, Ginko! Don't we do enough of that?"
"Dude, no." Ginko unzipped his backpack to put his palm camera in. "I need you as a testee. I'm producing a new documentary film, but the guys won't approve unless I make a surreal sample."
Cosmo shrugged his own backpack over his shoulders. "Okay! I could be a testee!"
Ginko returned his gratitude by bumping knuckles with Cosmo as the two proceeded into prison...ahem, school. The pair had been best friends since freshman year and associated with some of the school's film club. Beyond that, they kept to themselves mostly. It wouldn't do much good, mainly for Cosmo as proven, to really try and interact with those who already treated him as a scapegoat. Not that Ginko was treated much better either by bigger crowds, but the guy had a way of not giving half a damn about anything outside what he actually cared about. He was quick to tell off any know-it-alls, and the rascal behavior he was good at by his sleuth nature was only to benefit him and anyone he thought deserved it. Cosmo namely.
"Hey," Cosmo tossed around as he floated backwards amongst the halls, looking back at Ginko. "Wanna sit with Wanda today?"
The tangerine-eyed fairy process the offer. While he knew of Cosmo's new friendship with the cheerleader, he couldn't say this sudden recommendation felt entirely needed. "Fairywinkle, Wanda?"
"Yeah."
Ginko shrugged his bag strap higher. "You don't mean at the high-priss table, right?"
"Uh..no we'd get our own table." Cosmo said. Even he didn't think those girls Wanda hung out with would be exact sunshine and rainbows with Cosmo 'The Dumbie' Cosma sitting with them out of the blue. Frankly, he'd been looking forward to this more and more than anything between here and his headache life at home. Maybe his friendship with Wanda could make school all the better.
"Yeah, okay." Ginko agreed. He obviously didn't know Wanda too well, but from their minor interactions, she didn't seem terrible so far. "Starting this year off with a reason to give Luther a reason to string you up, huh?"
"Ginko!"
"What? I'm kidding!" He rustled one arm around the green fairy. "Dude, senior year ain't that much of a kick. It's just one bus stop away to freedom."
Trust, Cosmo could tell him all day about that. The two peas proceeded to chat in their own pod away from the world around them.
Obnoxious giggles erupted from a table amongst the cafeteria fully occupied by students. A large group of girls sat around their usual spot situated by one of the bigger windows facing the school's courtyard. Wanda and Sage were two notable members as they sat side by side as per usual. Wanda unscrewed the cap of her apple juice before one missing friend came swooping back the table faster than anyone could say 'poof.'
"I did it!" She squealed, blush red hair slicked back in a high pony of wavy curls that went to her shoulder blades even when tied up. Pale lavender eyes upon a pasty face of a broad lip-lined smile, dressed in a lavender ruched tank top with matching pearl earrings and high rise jean shorts, sporting shell-top kicks with purplish-pink stripes as she re-took her seat with a flick of her ponytail.
"Aaaand what's that, Krystal?" Sage asked.
"I finally gained Milo's attention, we're ditching fifth period to make up for what I was DENIED at Juniper's party."
"Yaaaas!" Another cheered, Tulip. Flawless skin of a warm sienna with blush pink hair parted down the middle and held in a low ponytail, making room for her large scarlet eyes to be shown and visible to lure in any male suitor was per her own experience. Large gold hoops hung from her lobes as she sported a matching blush pink tube top over skinny white jeans and black flats, long stiletto nails reaching for one of her chilli fries. "Hope you're wearing your good bra."
"Shut up!" Krystal ground through her teeth.
"You're gonna...do it? During fifth?" Wanda asked, kinda bewildered that Krystal had it in her. It might've been more motivated on Milo's end by no surprise.
"Oh, look at you Wandie. So pure." One spoke from another end that Wanda looked to. Juniper, by the known name. Fiery red hair straightened parted through the middle that trailed down her back like a glistening red-hot curtain. Honey-glowed skin upon a well-pointed face with the same fiery red eyes that went to speak for her general nature that was indeed firey as she addressed the entire table she liked to consider her property of girls. Dressed in a white rib-knit cropped tank top with a gold choker made of a chain of daisy flowers looping the column of her neck, with matching dangling rods for earrings. She wore a short leather skirt and white platform sneakers with white knee-high socks with black zipper-stripped trim at the end.
"How's that?" Wanda asked.
"Krys and Milo have been doing it since last semester."
"Well, that I know." Wanda reminded. "I'm just saying, doing it on school grounds-"
"Wussy, wuss, hon!" Juniper gawked, loyal girls giggling in return. "You'd think you have a bit of fun for once!"
"Oh relax, we're not all looking to get off during fifth by some guy." Sage defended.
"He's not some guy!" Krystal defended, though Sage and Wanda knew it was going to be well off onto the next after this one. So did everyone at that table but what did they care about saying it out loud and not behind Krystal's back? Mainly by Juniper.
"Are you sure you want that, Krys?" Wanda asked genuinely. She knew Krystal had a tendency to let anyone sort of do what they want to her, and she didn't really say no to keep them satisfied.
Tulip clicked her tongue. "Duh, Wandie! She can borrow my perfume."
"Why're you so wrapped up?" Juniper called out on Wanda. "Just because you haven't screwed Juannie yet?"
"I'm not wrapped up," Wanda bid a fake smile of defense, holding her chin in one palm. Would she be the 'listen and do her part' Wanda today? Or 'fired up' Wanda? Seems like this particular friend was giving her only one choice. "You're the one wrapped up alright, in Luther's pants."
"Ay, ay, ay, ay! Shots fired!" Sage hooted, fist-bumping her bestie. Juniper flicked her hair, poking at her potato salad and peas.
"Speaking of the hunk himself," Tulip said, she and two other girls sitting next to her across the table giggled at the arrival unexpected to Juniper behind her. Bulky arms of an aqua blue and white varsity jacket tackled Juniper around her middle causing her to squeal and drop her fork. Luther making quick nibbles on her ear before lifting his somewhat-girlfriend's chin for some tongue-to-tongue action.
Sage lifted her water bottle for a drink, muttering to Wanda; "Hand me your chip bag, Wan. I'm gonna hurl."
Other members of the varsity's table came around to say hi to the general clique of girls they associated with. Many being boyfriends of the cheer squad as one particular purple-eyed fairy came behind his girlfriend and held her shoulders for her to peer up and greet him with a smile.
"Hi.."
"Hola," he greeted in a sultry voice, lips pecking pink-glossed lips. Wanda let him take her seat as he pulled her to sit halfway on his lap with hands holding his chest for support in the same fashion as many of the other girls and their boyfriends.
"Juannie," Juniper called, holding Luther's head by a backward arm as he didn't come up for air by her neck. "You sure you wanna hold her that close? She might scream and call the police."
Juandissimo's arm held Wanda by her waist as his girlfriend rolled her eyes. "What does she mean?"
"Nothing," muttered Wanda.
"Ain't that deep," Sage agreed.
"Nah, always deep with Wanda!" Milo called, arm firmly around Krystal. A pale guy with spikey forest green hair and eyes, decked in similar attire of a varsity jacket and jeans like the rest of them. Despite being one of the smallest few of the buff guys. The group laughed. "What is it now?"
"She said nothing, meathead." Sage passively-aggressively defended.
"Uh, oh. Someone's time of the month is up," Luther called upon Sage, finally rid of Juniper's now saliva-painted neck. "Maybe if you got your own boyfriend you wouldn't be so tense."
The table 'ooohed' and laughed, and Sage cocked her head one way;
"And maybe, if your big wooden melon head rolled off your shoulders, I could finally run it through the meat grinder and feed it down your headless hole so that you'd poop out hot coal that I could burn and use to cremate the rest of your pathetic, horny body."
"OH!" The table busted with, Sage's savage remark of no reason nor explanation dumbfounding Luther.
"Whateva." He snarled.
"So," Juandissimo asked, moving quickly from a conversation he had no care for. "You want to do something after school, mi flor?"
Wanda held his shoulders. "Sage and I have plans, but maybe after if they run short?"
"Está bien," her boyfriend agreed. "We can have the rest of lunch alone."
"..actually, I-"
"So, before you boys so rudely interrupted," Juniper announced to the whole table. "I was gonna make an announcement for the girls." She lightly cleared her throat, now posed from atop Luther's lap like a throne. "We're going to sectionals, ladieees!"
The entirety of girls busted out with squeals and cheers, including Wanda.
"I thought Cottondrop High bumped us down by half a point last competition?" Wanda said, under the impression that based on last year's nationals, the cheer squad might miss a season of competition and only do pep rallies and sports due to certain school budget cuts made last year. Supposedly all their parents' funds towards the program helped their girls in the end.
"Not with coach's ties! And helluva good moolah!" Juniper said. While the cheer squad won many titles, and definitely earned them, any bump away from nationals wouldn't suffice by their hard-pushing coach.
"I'm down," Sage said. She quickly noted the time and looked to Wanda. "But uh, if we want to make the time, Wan."
Fully aware of their original plans, Wanda nodded as to move off of Juandissimo's lap.
"Where're you going?" Krystal asked.
Wanda looked to Sage as if blank of an answer to the large crowd. "We have other lunch plans."
Juniper scrunched her brow in oddness, stroking Luther's bicep.
"With who?" Juandissimo asked.
"A friend," Wanda said, taking her tray. "But, I'll see you later. Promise?"
Her boyfriend looked a little baffled by the odd move but nodded nonetheless. Reaching up to exchange a kiss with her.
"Fine, whatever." Juniper brushed off. She ran a finger down Luther's pec as lustful eyes stared into each other. "Lu and I might get our own table."
"Always enjoy a third member," Luther agreed, he looked across the table and winked at the ice-blue fairy. "So, Sage?"
Sage's stare locked on him, before grabbing her tray. "Yup, let's bounce Wanda."
Across the cafeteria, a group of four sat at their lone end of a corner table. Half the members including Cosmo and Ginko and the other two notable friends. One known as Deval, warm golden skin with raven black spiked hair and lapis blue eyes behind square-shaped frames. Wearing a speckled-wool sweater of a navy blue with regular jeans and chunky white high-top sneakers as he typed profusely on a laptop with his lunch tray half-touched beside him on the table. Aside him sat Flix, ivory skin of Mandarin roots with matching blood orange short-spiked hair and eyes. Dressed in a plain black long sleeve with a joking phrase in white writing across the chest saying 'no thanks.' As well as green khaki pants with black high-top boots. Flix too disregarded his lunch as he read paper notes aloud to Deval, as Ginko and Cosmo sat across from them.
"Make sure to re-edit the framing of the 'Hallway number one' scene, and we're gonna have to re-shoot the gym scene."
"Again?" Ginko asked through a mouth full of yogurt.
"Duh, again." Flix mocked.
"Lighting was way too harsh, let's meet after school." Deval noted, pointing towards the editing software on his screen displaying one of their films in the making.
"For the millionth time through your thick skull," Ginko said, agitated fury ringing through his tangerine eyes. "My family is moving my aunt across freaking town today, I told you already."
"This is important, Ginko."
The fairy with the beanie slammed down both his spoon and yogurt cup, still in hand as he stared across the two in disbelief. Cosmo pulled away from his trance of staring off by his best friend's annoyance he was able to sense.
"Gink?" Cosmo asked.
"Ya'll just keep planning through others' plans." Ginko said, unafraid of calling these two boneheads out.
"And you proposed this project." Deval reminded.
"So?"
"So take freaking charge, man!"
"Guys!" Cosmo tried to defuse. Though Ginko tried to give his friend his undivided attention, Deval and Flix continued to talk over Cosmo. They tended to do that a little more often than they liked to admit when it came to this club. Or a lot of things.
"Unless you wanna scrap this whole thing." Deval said, threatening to pull the plug.
"Guys!"
"Nah, you all voted on the idea!" Ginko argued. "We're keeping it!"
"Yo, chill!" Flix silenced. "Let's call it for now before we call it quits completely."
The group solemnly agreed, relaxing from the stress-induced film project they had to fight to get their teacher-supervisor to agree on. They only had so much school budget for tech equipment and the new implements Flix made weren't helping.
"We still hanging out, Saturday?" Deval proposed.
"Ya," Flix nodded. "Whataya say Coz? I can whip you at Comet Kart again."
"You wish!" The green fairy bark laughed. "Ginko helped me practice this weekend."
"Boy's gonna shred the video game road before the real one." Ginko gloated, tacking an arm around Cosmo who chuckled in delight.
"So it's official, you got your license?" Deval asked.
"Not yet," Cosmo said. "I'm soooo close though, I wish it would hurry up."
Lapis eyes rolled behind his frames, poking at his cafeteria mash potatoes. "You least of all need to rush."
"Hey," Cosmo pouted, nearly feigning a child. "I'm not that bad actually.."
Flix looked to Deval next to him. "Imma only get into a car with Cosmo driving when a few test dummies have gone before me."
"Same."
Cosmo reached for his apple, annoyance pinching his brow. "I'll have my license.."
"What 'bout skill?"
Ginko flicked a pea with his spoon. "Kay, chill. He'll be fine."
The two just continued on with their amusement. Ginko wondered if their new positioning as presidents of the Film Club has really put them on that high of a pedestal. Especially for two who claimed to be so above it all with the larger and obnoxious crowds that hated all four of them.
"Okay, one more thing, and I'll drop it." Flix said. "We need another scene shot of gym class."
"Again? Coach nearly pummeled for asking if I could film class last time." Ginko retorted.
"Dude, come on. For a film you decided-"
"Alriiiight." Ginko groaned, having heard that excuse one too many times already.
Cosmo swallowed a sip of water from his portable bottle. "What about interviews or something?"
"From half our grade? You try that if you want to." Deval noted. "I'm out, though."
Ginko chewed his mash potatoes. "Why not?"
"It's 'Lives of the Undiscovered'." Flix reminded. "Pretty sure the boneheads we do Phys Ed with don't need anymore discovering than they already have. The point is to focus on what lives are underappreciated."
Cosmo gave this a hard consideration. "But, if they don't know our lives, doesn't that mean we don't know theirs..?"
"Whatever, Coz. Agree with me and I'll buy your next pudding cup."
"Hey, that's straight-up bribery!" Ginko snapped with a light grin. "Nah!"
"I'll take it!" Cosmo shot his hand up high. Eyes vibrant in his friend's offer before his gaze shifted to another end of the cafeteria. Caught in the commotion by two students moving in between crowds to move to a different spot. Lowering his hands in realizing the passing of the hour, Cosmo gave a hit of attention to Ginko's shoulder who's eyes followed.
"Oh, uh...right." Ginko agreed, having nearly forgotten. He wiped his mouth by the back of his hand and took his tray. "See you guys, later?"
"Where're you going?" Deval asked.
"To meet with my new friend." Cosmo said, half-gloating smugly.
That wasn't a sentence that usually came out of their green-haired friend's mouth. "Being who..?"
"Wanda."
The name didn't seem to draw familiarity for a second, before something knowing crossed both Deval and Flix's faces. "As in Wanda Fairywinkle?" The lapis-eyed one asked.
Ginko shrugged his tray. "That's the one."
Deval groaned, suddenly fed up. "C'mon Coz, don't be that stupid."
This made no sense to the green fairy. "Of what?"
"You're meeting with Wanda Fairywinkle. When the hell did that happen?"
"We've been friends the whole summer..."
"Bro, are you crazy?" Flix said. "She's gonna have Luther and his wandering minions string you up like a pinata."
Cosmo shook his shag of hair in worry. "No, it's not like that!"
The two looked like they were resisting to cringe. Ginko stood by the helpless Cosmo's decision despite his doubts, too.
"We're good, trust. See you after."
"M'kay.."
The two made way from their usual table to trail along where Cosmo first saw Sage and Wanda move to amongst the big cafeteria. He rediscovered the familiar pink and blue and went about their tale as to cross the entire room almost completely. Further from where Wanda and Sage's usual table was and to a nearly empty table where one long end consisted of two random students but the whole of it was otherwise empty.
Wanda and Sage sat down next to each other, unexpecting their arrivals so soon of the two approaching boys.
"Hey, Wanda!" Cosmo greeted, pink eyes rose that caused a flutter in his stomach. She smiled.
"Hey, Cosmo."
"You remember Ginko, right?"
From the brief moment they have met, Wanda gave a small wave. "Yeah. Hi, Ginko."
His lips curved in a slightly awkward manner. "Sup."
The two boys took their seats across from them as the ice blue fairy sat across from Ginko. "Sage," she greeted, gaining his slight nod in return.
"Hope we didn't cut in on your lunch plans." Wanda said.
"Nope!" Cosmo grinned. "I'm really happy to see you!"
Wanda couldn't help her giggles at Cosmo's enthusiasm. "Me too."
"Our lunch discussion wasn't really going anywhere, anyway." Ginko decided to mention.
Wanda shrugged. "I guess ours wasn't, either..."
A slight moment of awkward silence bedded over the four. Eyes wandering and fingers tapping.
"How long you've been working at the diner?" Sage tried breaking the ice.
Cosmo slanted his lips, eyes traveling upwards in thought across a humble face. "I guess since the beginning of summer."
"Cool.."
"It seems really nice to work there," Wanda said. "I mean, as nice as customer service gets I guess."
"Oh, yeah!" Cosmo agreed happily. "I don't even mind the guy who spills cherry soda on me every Thursday, now!"
Wanda giggled through a grin.
While the pink and green fairy were two peas, the tangerine-eyed fairy drummed his fingers against the table, leaving his food untouched. He decided to pull out his portable camera to look through frames after Deval and Flix requested he take new shots of the gym. What could've been wrong with the old ones?
"So, you a director or something?" Sage asked, noticing his camera.
Ginko played with his precious tech. "Because directors hold the cameras in film? If that's how it worked, sure."
Sage slanted her brow and Wanda hid her laughing smile.
"Okay, filmophile." Sage deadpanned, reaching for her water bottle.
The camera-tinkering fairy snorted. "That's a good one.."
"Spent a sec on it."
Cosmo looked from staring at his best friend and...whatever new friend Sage was to him, to address Wanda. "Is this friendly talk..?"
Wanda poked at her pasta salad and smiled across at one of her new favorite people. "I think it's two tops meeting for the first time."
"Ouh! That I like." Sage nudged her best friend by her shoulder in praise.
"You callin' me a top?" Ginko asked. "I doubt you would've cared to know before."
"You don't know what I care about, dork."
"Okay, easy." Wanda said, casting a warning glare between the two. "I came for lunch here to get away from the subtle bickering."
"What can I say? I like a challenge." Sage said, finding relaxation in the group. "Maybe tops need other tops."
"Same," Ginko said. He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at lone table with Juniper and Luther, "So long as you aren't Red over there, I don't think there's any problem." The same red fairy drowning from Luther's mouth as she momentarily eyed Wanda who redirected her gaze.
Able to see the obvious, but in denial, Wanda mumbled down to her pasta salad. "She's not that bad..."
"Nah, she's pretty bad." Sage budded, the pink fairy beside her unable to hide the curve of her lips. "Gonna get an earful from her later just for sitting here."
"I applaud you for having the guts." Ginko agreed, reaching down beside his seat to tuck his camera away for now. He drew up and pulled his tray forward. "For you two to make friends with my boy 'ere means you're gonna have to see a whole lotta me."
Wanda nodded. "Oh, we know. You're part of the ideal deal."
"Thanks," the yellow fairy did a two-finger salute. "Madam'."
The few giggled.
"So, Wanda," Cosmo asked, fascinated eyes on her the whole time. "Why'd you start doing cheer?"
Wanda swallowed her pasta salad. "Oh, a lotta reasons. I like to dance, and I know cheer's a sport, but a lot of our friends joined so it seemed like a good fit I guess. I wasn't that bad to get in."
Sage hit her shoulder against Wanda's again. "Yeah, not bad when the entire team rests on her shoulders."
"Oh, hush. It's hardly like that."
"I'd love to come watch you," Cosmo said.
The thought of Cosmo being in the stands seemed to put a more positive fit on it for Wanda. "Sure!"
"Just don't let Cosmo try and bud in," Ginko warned jokingly. "Last thing this boy needs is pom-poms."
"Hey, I'd be great IF I wanted to!" Cosmo humphed. "I can kick pretty high!"
"The real question is though," Sage pointed her fork with a bemused smirk. "How good does your butt look in those skirts?"
The four erupted into real laughter.
. . .
. .
Daw, friendship.
While I've used Sage quite a few times in my fics I don't think I've explored much with Ginko so imma try and use him more. Be back with the next one soon!
~McSgwizzle