Being grounded was something Almas mom took too a scary level. She couldn't have her phone, was pretty much forced into spending time with her family as a punishment. She shouldn't feel that way, but she did. Even when her mom wasn't doing particularly anything to piss her off, she was so angry at her for all the shit she'd done to her in the past that she couldn't help the attitude. But instead of her mom actually seeing that, she just yelled at her about it like that would make it any better.

After Alma had met Ethan, she had a bit more of a purpose. Before, she didn't break rules, too worried about her mom and her punishments. And then she had someone, an actual friend that was worth rebelling with. She didn't have that before, not really, and now that she did....fuck the punishments.

"Got it?" Ethan asked, reaching into Almas window to help duck her head down, "Have you ever snuck out before."

"Ow." she commented after knocking her head on the window ceil, "No, I haven't."

Ethan had hold of her waist, pulling her out of the window as they both steadied each other with quick inhaled. Alma smiled, shifting her hips to get him to take his hands off her waist. He did immediately when realizing he'd left them there, "I don't have a car."

"And my mom has my keys." Alma hummed as she looked at Ethan, pushing her finger into his forehead, "Any brilliant ideas going on in there?"

"I was gonna say we could walk." Ethan suggested as the pair went down the short driveway.

"Wrong answer, both of us are out of shape, we won't make it two miles." Alma nodded under the street lamps, getting an offended look from him, "What? I don't mean it in a horrible way. You still have a nice bod."

"Well, my nice bod and I are very offended by your comments." Ethan placed a dramatic hand on his heart, watching Alma pull out her phone, "What is your brilliant plan then?"

"I'm texting a friend." Alma hummed.

"I'm your only friend." Ethan look at her in disbelief, Alma only had to smile as the line rung.

"Wooooo." Alma had to do it, riding on the back of Rue's bike as her hands went into the air, "Oh my god, the wind!"

"Have you never ridden a bike before?" Rue asked her, trying not to laugh at Almas overly excitement.

"Not for at least a decade." she laughed, shutting her eyes as the wind hit her face. The street lights illuminated her every few seconds, feeling as though this was what it was like to be on top of the world.

"Woooo." Ethan mimicked her action from one the back of Ginas bike, the Bennett siblings sharing a amusing laugh at the pair, "Alma, we should get bikes."

"I can't ride a bike." she said back, one arm going in the air as the wind yanked it back slightly, she smiled. Her eyes moved, finding Ethan grinning over at her. Once again, he copied her action with his arm up in the air. Alma reached over, their hands brushing and fingers dancing together in the wind, laughing like they'd just won the lottery, on the back of a pair of old bikes.

"Woah, you have the weakest stomach ever." Ethan commented as he squinted his nose. Alma had warned him before they got onto the zipper, said she indeed had a weak stomach. Last thing he expected was for her to puke though. Yet here they were, puking behind the fish cup games. Ethan tried not to gag as he patted her back, reaching forward the gather her hair back for her, "There, there. No shame here."

Alma groaned, finally feeling like her entire stomach was emptied. She whipped her mouth on her jacket, taking it off immediately. Ethan wrapped an arm around her, thanking god that she wore normal shoes and he stood a inch taller tonight. Her head had fallen onto his shoulder, Ethan tried to look at her better. All sickly and feeling terrible.

Then he laughed.

"Stop." Alma elbowed him harshly, "I hate throwing up."

"I happen to hate you throwing up too, so much in common." he spoke to her with a minor laugh, holding the large frog they'd won, "You still have him."

Alma smiled, leaning off of him and taking the stuffed animal, "I'm a terrible carnival plus one."

"You are." Ethan agreed, hands in his pockets, rocking on his heels slightly, "But I still wouldn't have it any other way."

Alma smiled as she shut her eyes, feeling horribly tired after puking up all the food she'd had today, "I need to find Rue, we should go home."

"It was fun while it lasted, don't worry." he put his arms around her again as they walked out from behind the booth, "I'm gonna get you a sprite, and I've got soup at home."

Alma didn't seem to pay much attention to his words, her eyes focused on a specific someone behind his head. It was impossible to tell what her emotions were right now, "Isn't that Kat?"

Ethan turned his head to find Kat walking into the graviton, clearing his throat with a red face, "Yeah, that's her."

Alma hesitated, "You should go."

His entire face fell, "What? No, are you crazy? No."

"Why? You said you liked her." Alma shrugged, her voice scratchy and eyes sunk in.

"Yeah, but, you're all sick and need to be taken care of." Ethan shrugged as he looked around for a truck with soft drinks, "Let's get you-"

"You should seriously just go." her tone was more snappy now, more aggressive, demanding. Ethan turned his head to her in shock, because he'd missed the entire point, "The girl you like is all alone in there and you're worried about another girl. Kinda pathetic, you should just go talk to her."

Ethan blinked, trying to figure out what had snapped on her, "Are we- are you okay?"

"I'll wait right here. Just go get her." Alma encouraged, nodding him along and then with a wave, "Go on, now, go."

And he listened, because no matter if he needed to stay, it seemed like she really just didn't want him there anymore.

"Incase you still don't understand abandonment issues, Alma didn't actually want Ethan to go. And I know you're probably having anti-feminist thoughts right now like "Doesn't no mean no?". Yes, you fucking asshole, it does. And the fact that you compare those two situation is disgusting. Alma didn't want Ethan to leave her, she just wanted the feeling like she'd been the burden to go away. She'd felt it a lot, actually. Never with Ethan though. Not until he tried to stay with her instead of going to the girl he actually liked."

Alma had no intention in waiting around for Ethan and Kat. The second he got onto the ride with her, Alma snuck behind the truck again and watched them walk out. They seemed so happy, so carefree. It hurt her, because that's just how she was. She didn't like that something wasn't all her's. Not because she was selfish, but because Alma had never had just one thing all for herself. And yeah, trying to take ownership over someone was fucked up, but apart of her just wanted to be the only actual person in Ethans life.

Because he'd been the only person in her own.

Out of pure jealousy, she snapped a picture and left.

•

kylie speaks

the fact that she is
trying to protect ethan
from assholes bc he hangs
around her, all while she is
completely jealous... we love
you alma.

rue and alma brotp.