cw: this character is very antagonistic and slightly obsessive, their general behaviour is spiteful, vindictive and unpleasant
[name_u]Cassidy[/name_u] " [name_u]Cass[/name_u] " [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Frain (20) is the infamous â5thâ would-be member of the podcast and Beauâs truly toxic ex. During the actual relationship nothing was that off or even unpleasant about [name_u]Cass[/name_u] - she was closer to [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] in appreciating and accepting Beauâs sweet gestures, fully reciprocating however she could, and even offered to remain friends when he felt they just werenât working out [partly because of a very awkward interaction where [name_u]Cass[/name_u] patronised [name_f]Lita[/name_f], something [name_u]Beau[/name_u] couldnât overlook] - it was the aftermath that revealed her vengeful streak; a tendency all her exes have been forced to reckon with to varying degrees, starting when she was in middle school. While those who know her best have tried psychoanalysing [name_u]Cass[/name_u] over the years, thereâs no âclearâ explanation for her behaviour. Yes, her parents divorced when she was 7 and her sister was 12, but it was an entirely amicable split and they never exposed their children to any discord around finances or custody arrangements [which was minimal anyways thanks to them just knowing their marriage was not what it had once been]. Letting go is just something [name_u]Cass[/name_u] struggles with when it isnât on her terms, which is clear in that whenever she ends a relationship thereâs no problem - if itâs the other way round, life becomes difficult for the other person.
Thereâs never any public confrontations or hate campaigns arranged, [name_u]Cass[/name_u] is more subtle and passive aggressive in how she âgets evenâ [her words, not anyone elseâs]. Sheâs a master of spreading rumours, controlling and shaping narratives to her wants, and ensuring the trail leading back to her is cold enough to dismiss proof she was the cause. In some ways itâs Cassâsâ most impressive attribute, for how sheâs happiest using it for revenge against any perceived sightings. It has rendered her socially isolated time and time again - as friendâs find her obsessive tendencies hard to deal with; not just about exes but certain trends, musicians and elements of studies - but [name_u]Cass[/name_u] isnât someone who really wants friends persay: romance is her greatest concern. A little ironically sheâs majoring in psychology, but this hasnât allowed her to become a mastermind as some from school would fear. Cassâsâ quick temper and belief she can pull others into her schemes continuously proves her downfall when combined with her overconfidence about her decision making and self-righteousness. Upon hearing of the podcast she firmly assumed the othersâ would wish to see [name_u]Beau[/name_u] completely destroyed for merely being a flighty teenage boy with insensitive traits - as thatâs the way [name_u]Cass[/name_u] wants things. Beauâs determination to find âThe Oneâ is something she relates to, albeit with a destructive lashing out when failure is presented.
Following [name_f]Nancy[/name_f] barring her, [name_u]Cass[/name_u] deliberated seeking retribution against her and the other co-hosts, but life got in the way, and she had less investment based on how they didnât really know one another. For her preoccupations with personal gratification, sheâs a surprisingly dedicated student who aspires highly and works to achieve excellent grades; always handing essays in on time and being very apt in her debating skills in the class environment. She does have a few long term friends - her best friend specifically benefitted from Cassâsâ plots - and even new oneâs on campus, who are mostly unaware of her past. The one person whoâs always seen through her is her big sister, and theyâre unsurprisingly embroiled in a lot of conflict themselves thanks to how sheâs always tried to pull [name_u]Cass[/name_u] away from her cruelties. [name_u]Cass[/name_u] feels this is a sign her sister doesnât care about her and sides with her exes, but really she just doesnât want this to become even worse, given that one of Cassâsâ newer friends is close with a roommate of BeauâsâŠ
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[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] " [name_u]Axel[/name_u] " [name_m]Willem[/name_m] [name_m]Dunstan[/name_m] (19) is Beauâs second roommate and the one heâs known since middle school. Heâs always tried to avoid [name_u]Cass[/name_u], even when she and [name_u]Beau[/name_u] were dating because he didnât exactly like her. It came as somewhat of a shock to him when he learned that his cousin, whoâs practically a sister to him, recently became friends with [name_u]Cass[/name_u]. [name_u]Axel[/name_u] hopes his cousin wonât get hurt but worries that [name_u]Cass[/name_u] might be using her to get to [name_u]Beau[/name_u]. Unbeknownst to [name_m]Emil[/name_m], [name_u]Axel[/name_u] knows about the podcast Beauâs exes started. He stumbled across it one day and decided not to tell anyone. Sometimes he wonders how he managed to get so embroiled in this drama and chalks it up to becoming friends with [name_u]Beau[/name_u]. He doesnât regret it though.
[name_u]Beau[/name_u] and his best friend were Axelâs first really good friends. He hadnât been able to make good connections with anyone else until then. In high school [name_u]Axel[/name_u] was never a really big fan of parties but heâd come to Beauâs anyway and generally had a good time. He met his girlfriend at one of Beauâs parties in 11th grade and theyâre still going strong.
[name_u]Axel[/name_u] is glad that Beauâs best friend convinced him to focus on himself and his friends instead of finding âThe Oneâ. [name_u]Axel[/name_u] doesnât really believe in all that but understands that [name_u]Beau[/name_u] does. The reason for this being that [name_u]Axel[/name_u] and his girlfriend are almost complete opposites. If he had Beauâs mindset he probably wouldnât have stayed long enough to see that theyâre compatible in spite of the differences. His girlfriend is the life of the party, extroverted, and just a generally happy person. [name_u]Axel[/name_u] on the other hand is much quieter in comparison, enjoys spending time alone, and tends to be somewhat stoic. They get along wonderfully though as theyâre both very kind people and can just enjoy each otherâs company without doing much talking.
[name_u]Axel[/name_u] was adopted into a wonderful family and has four siblings who were all adopted as well. His older brother is 22 and was the first to be adopted as a newborn. Two years later Axelâs 20 year old sister was adopted as a baby. [name_u]Axel[/name_u] was adopted six years later as a 5 year old. His 17 year old sister was then adopted the next year when she was 4 and his 17 year old brother was adopted the year after at 5. They all have a strong bond and are fluent in Chinese and [name_u]French[/name_u] since two of Axelâs siblings are from those countries. Their parents wanted those siblings to still have connections to their heritage which is why the languages were spoken in the house along with [name_f]English[/name_f]. The family have taken trips to both [name_f]China[/name_f] and [name_u]France[/name_u] before and enjoyed the vacations.
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[name_f]Mollie[/name_f] [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] [name_m]Durham[/name_m] (19) is Axelâs girlfriend. She is a college student who is studying [name_u]Early[/name_u] Childhood Education. She loves singing and horses, and has competed in barrel racing competitions.
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[name_f]Justina[/name_f] [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] [name_m]Durham[/name_m] (13) is Mollieâs younger sister. Sheâs been babied a bit during the first few years of her life due to how happy her parents were to have her. She was both a planned baby
and an unexpected baby at the same time â her parents have tried for so long to conceive another child and it finally happened when they least expected it and were about to give up! [name_f]Justina[/name_f] knows how her parents babied her for her toddler and early child years but she knows they werenât biased. She knew [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] found it cringy and [name_f]Justina[/name_f] understood due to she and [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] growing up with a lot of stereotypical âsibling orderâ traits. Theyâve gotten along better now and really want to live up this year since itâs the only year theyâre both teenagers: [name_f]Justina[/name_f] is 13 and [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] is 19. Both of them love singing and horses and [name_f]Justina[/name_f] is now getting [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] into hip hop dancing. She always roots on her sister in the barrel racing competitions. Itâs Justinaâs first year of being a teen and sheâs already feeling the vibe and not wanting to be called âchildâ or âkidâ. [name_f]Justina[/name_f] has YouTube, but doesnât really have any interest in podcasts but has heard around from Axelâs adoptive siblings. Although the teens hate gossip and most drama isnât spoken to anyone outside [name_u]Cass[/name_u], [name_u]Beau[/name_u], [name_u]Axel[/name_u], and the podcasters; nothing can necessarily stop it from leaking out. Justinaâs still close with Axelâs siblings and they go off to do other stuff whenever [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] visits [name_u]Axel[/name_u]. [name_f]Justina[/name_f] sees them as cool older siblings and enjoys being around other teens since sheâs a teen now too.
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Amy-Rose [name_m]Edwards[/name_m] (14) is Justinaâs friend as they both go to the same horse riding. [name_f]Amy[/name_f] likes to be in control of things so she started horse riding when she was 9 to face her fear of horses and now she loves them, owning three of her own, mulberry, acorn and hazelnut on her familyâs farm. she hates being known as posh in her school which is in the city a few miles away from her familys farm. Her parents divorced when she was 5 and her Dad (a farmer) moved in with a older woman, a retired film star, and [name_f]Amy[/name_f] and one of her two siblings chose to live with their Dad in Pennsylvania instead of moving to [name_u]London[/name_u] with their Mother. Her Dad and Step-Mom, who is known as [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] to the kids went on to have another child who is close with [name_f]Amy[/name_f].
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[name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] âAnnieâ [name_m]Edwards[/name_m] (15) is Amy-Roseâs older sister, and the only one of the siblings to move to [name_u]London[/name_u] with their mom. [name_f]Annie[/name_f] is very sporty, and has been competing in gymnastics since elementary school, now that sheâs in high school sheâs begun to branch out and has started both ballet and swimming.
[name_f]Annie[/name_f] was always much closer with her mom, and while she loves living in [name_u]London[/name_u] with her mother, she feels lonely often now that she doesnât have her siblings around her for the first time. Sheâs made a lot of new friends though, and [name_f]Annie[/name_f] and her mother recently adopted a puppy that she named [name_u]Hyacinth[/name_u].
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[name_f]Nina[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] Ventress (15) is one of Annieâs new friends. [name_u]London[/name_u] hasnât always been the place Ninaâs called home, she actually lived in [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] until she was 11, but her dad was offered a new job and the family subsequently moved to avoid a long, expensive commute process for him on a daily basis. [name_f]Nina[/name_f] has two fathersâ - her dad and her papa - who conceived her through surrogacy, something sheâs always open about and never bats an eye at her friends asking questions about this. Sheâs their only child, a choice the couple made because of their hectic schedules, and this means she understands the loneliness [name_f]Annie[/name_f] sometimes experiences in a different way, talking to her about the struggles of the change whenever called upon.
Dance is what led to the two girls bonding, as Ninaâs avid about lyrical, ballet and jazz inspired routines, hoping to embark on a professional career, and sheâs looking at applying for the [name_u]London[/name_u] Academy, with the full support of her fathersâ. [name_f]Nina[/name_f] also owns a dog - [name_f]Theta[/name_f] the [name_m]German[/name_m] [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] - whoâs just turned 1, and when Hyacinthâs old enough to go for walks with [name_f]Annie[/name_f], the friends have made plans to go out together. To their amusement, [name_f]Theta[/name_f] dotes upon [name_u]Hyacinth[/name_u] as if she were the one to give birth to her, and the dogs are exceptionally close, mirroring the bond between the two girlsâ. Theyâre sometimes joined by one of their other friendsâ, who helps train guide dogs, and owns a Cocker Spaniel named [name_u]Maurice[/name_u], who [name_f]Nina[/name_f] suspects may have a crush on [name_f]Annie[/name_f] (not that the guy will admit it to herâŠyet).
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[name_f]Jaelynn[/name_f] â [name_u]Jae[/name_u] â Gomez (12) is Ninaâs half-sister who she is unaware of because her surrogate mother who she is not in contact with had [name_u]Jae[/name_u] after deciding she wanted her own kids. [name_u]Jae[/name_u] loves swimming and is very active. [name_u]Jae[/name_u] and her Mom live in St. Paulâs in [name_u]London[/name_u], after Jaeâs Mom started her own cyber security business, taking up cases of people who have been hacked and tracking them down. It is dangerous work and she has many enemies but they live a normal life. Jaeâs Mom is a single Mom as she had a sperm donor so she could have a child without being romantically linked to someone.
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[name_f]Dariana[/name_f] Gomez (42) is Jaeâs mother and the surrogate for Ninaâs dad and his husband, Ninaâs papa. Jaeâs sperm donour is a distant relative of the [name_m]Edwards[/name_m] family. [name_f]Nina[/name_f] and [name_u]Jae[/name_u] are not the only children [name_f]Dariana[/name_f] has been pregnant with, she was 21 when she first gave birth and is involved with that 21-year-old as well. [name_f]Dariana[/name_f] knows to be a good candidate for surrogacy is having at least one prior healthy pregnancy so she didnât hesitate to serve as a surrogate when her brother asked her. [name_f]Dariana[/name_f] has kept her Gomez surname while her brother has changed his surname to his husbandâs and brought his husbandâs surname to [name_f]Nina[/name_f]. [name_f]Dariana[/name_f] works and owns her own cyber security company and is an expert at decoding hackers. Her dog Deeno [pictured right] is a motivator for her and comforts her when the job gets stressful. [name_f]Dariana[/name_f] is proud of Jaeâs swimming and is on great terms with her swim coach, who is helping [name_u]Jae[/name_u] learn fast.
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[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] " [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] " [name_f]Chloe[/name_f] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] (21) is the first child [name_f]Dariana[/name_f] gave birth to. Theyâve been in contact since [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] was eighteen and decided she wanted to know her. They donât have a mother-daughter relationship and [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] sees her as more of an aunt and friend. Her parents were totally supportive of this and [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] loves them for that. Sheâs an only child and has always been very close to her mom and dad. They are her biggest supporters in everything and she supports them too. Right now [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] works at her parentsâ restaurant as a waitress though after finishing school she plans on becoming a chef there.
Moving out of her parentsâ house last year, [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] has been living with her best friend in an apartment. They share the apartment with Zazieâs tortoiseshell cat Mew Mew, and her friendâs pet. Her friend is privy to an exciting secret that [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] is not. Her boyfriend plans to propose soon at the park they met at. The friend group [name_f]Zazie[/name_f] and her boyfriend are apart of are all privy to this piece of information as well, excepting one of them who canât keep a secret to save his life.
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[name_f]Malati[/name_f] Mishra (she/her, 20) is Zazieâs best friend and roommate. The two girls are both only children, and they grew up together, so they consider each other more like sisters than friends. [name_f]Malati[/name_f] also works at Zazieâs parentâs restaurant, but as a hostess, while she makes her way through beauty school to become a makeup artist. [name_f]Malati[/name_f] was the one who brought up sharing an apartment with [name_f]Zazie[/name_f], and the two girls spent a long time hunting for the perfect apartment that would take both Mew Mew and Malatiâs ancient Shih Tzu, [name_f]Leela[/name_f]. [name_f]Malati[/name_f] was always very independent, and even though she loves her parents, she was excited to move in with her best friend.
[name_f]Malati[/name_f] was over the moon when Zazieâs boyfriend told her about his plans to propose, and she canât wait to help make her best friendâs wedding into a dream come true, starting with helping Zazieâs boyfriend plan his proposal. The coming proposal has made [name_f]Malati[/name_f] think about getting married herself, but she hasnât been in a long term relationship for 2 years, ever since she broke up with her high school girlfriend.
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[name_f]Rowena[/name_f] " [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] " [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] Stanstead (20) is Malatiâs ex-girlfriend from secondary school. The coupleâs split was amicable and was a result of [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] being accepted to study at Edinburgh Medical School, with them feeling such a long distance relationship wouldnât work out long term based on their preferences for physical closeness. Looking back, [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] also feels there was a natural pessimism about things lasting - a lot of relationships starting at school end when graduation occurs - however she is thankful [name_f]Malati[/name_f] and her didnât end up devolving into bitterness or resentment over what transpired. They still have some mutual friends and are semi aware of what each other are up to but havenât met up, as [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] worries it could be more than a little awkward as sheâs now in a relationship with a girl she met through her veterinary studies, while on placement at a local animal hospital. She feels a lot of gratitude towards their social group and doesnât want to pull them into anything uncomfortable, so sheâs hanging back, although her girlfriendâs fully aware of this, as [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] didnât want to shut her out of this part of her life. Openness is something she greatly values, and while sheâs always upfront and honest, itâs a give and take where she asks for the same transparency back.
Part of [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] wonders if itâs a learned behaviour: her dad spent a lot of his life hiding being gay, to the point of which he outright avoided dating, and [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] was conceived through IVF with a friend of his. Her familyâs a little unconventional - her mum and dad were never a couple, they actually started out as basically strangers who were paired up through the clinic, however during the process they decided to co-parent, with [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] living with her dad one week and her mum the next as they made sure to relocate to the same area. It was her mum who helped her dad finally come out to his family, and while there was some awkwardness, it stemmed more from them being kept in the dark rather than bigotry [a relief as much as it was difficult for him to work through at times]. She now has a stepfather on her mumâs side and two half-siblings, one whoâs just started secondary school, the otherâs in Year 4 at primary, and her dad has been seeing a guy for 3 years, which sheâs been incredibly supportive of. [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] often jokes you could write a book about her background and people would call it farfetched thanks to the unusual circumstances, but she loves her family dearly, and never opposes the uniqueness of her situation.
Having adored animals for as long as everyone can remember - making a bug hotel with her mum and going horseriding with her dad - itâs no surprise her first instinct upon moving into her current house was to get a pet. She has a 2-year-old rescue cat named [name_m]Armand[/name_m], a Russian [name_u]Blue[/name_u] who was abandoned when his former owners moved house, and her housemates absolutely dote on him, which [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] thoroughly endorses. One of them actually got another cat recently herself - after a family friendâs pet had kittens - and the new addition has been welcomed by all with excellent [although [name_m]Armand[/name_m] needed a little time to adjust to sharing all the human attention]. Her girlfriend lives a 15 minute walk away, although the couple have no plans on moving in together - even with four years of studies ahead of them both - as they want to do things when they feel ready and not thanks to some societal dictations or expectations. It doesnât stop them going for brunch dates almost every morning though after theyâve attended their early lectures.
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Nhu-LiĂȘn " [name_f]Emanuelle[/name_f] " Kha (21) is Rowanâs current girlfriend and a Veterinary Nursing & Companion Animal Behaviour student. The daughter of first and second generation Vietnamese immigrants, [name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] was raised in Greenock, and absolutely loves the way her dadâs parents - who live in Kon Tum, where he grew up - find her accent so charming and amusing. Her love of animals stemmed from her mother, the owner of a local cattery who gave her 3 children opportunities to come and work alongside the cats for extra pocket money (and a head start on work experience), where [name_f]Emanuelle[/name_f] quickly fell in love with them.
To the surprise of no-one, the following [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] - when she was 12 - her parents adopted rescue kittens, one for each child. [name_f]Emanuelle[/name_f] named herâs Blackberry and absolutely adores her, being saddened at the fact she had to leave her behind when she moved out for university, but she knew it was for the best given the cats are incredibly close (being biological sisters). Sheâs frequently getting photos and updates sent by her parents and younger sibling - whoâs just started their A-Levels - and absolutely dotes on [name_m]Armand[/name_m] in the meantime. Itâs not uncommon for her and [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] to joke about setting the cats up if theyâre ever able to introduce them, but so far that hasnât happened.
[name_f]Emanuelle[/name_f] lives with just one other person - her best friend, who sheâs known since secondary school - in a cozy little flat, where [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] stays if one of her housemates is requiring a bit of space. Thanks to their shared plans for the future and love of animals, theyâre always watching documentaries together or going on trips to shelters and wildlife parks. Sheâs the main cook of the pair, something [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] jokes about making up for with her tidying skills, thanks to having learned how to prepare Vietnamese dishes with the help of her parents; enjoying how it keeps her close to her culture, even when sheâs away. The main person [name_f]Emanuelle[/name_f] visits is her older sibling, whoâs just started their masters degree at Newcastle.
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[name_f]Samara[/name_f] âSamâ [name_u]Riley[/name_u] [name_u]Cooper[/name_u] [21] is a classmate of [name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] and much like her, [name_u]Sam[/name_u] is an animal lover and has been rescuing animals of all kinds since she was just a kid. Her most recent rescue being a black and white puppy that she found behind the building she works in by the garbage. After cleaning up the little runt and ensuring that nobody was looking for her, she named her [name_f]Harlowe[/name_f] and sheâs become the light of her world among lots of chaos related to school.
Sheâs currently hoping to take back some of her personal time, aside from school, work, and puppy training, to get back into piano. She used to play as a child between days spent playing outside in the mud with her two younger sisters. It was a nice way to counteract the outdoors that she loved so much and relax after a long day. The habit was introduced to her through her aunt with whom sheâs very close with. Her father often worked late hours so her motherâs sister would come over to help out with her three nieces, loving them all equally but seeing a little more of herself in the young [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. It was her who taught her how to play the piano. That same aunt will be visiting soon to help [name_u]Sam[/name_u] and her sisters plan a surprise birthday party for her mom.
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cw: racism/bigotry
[name_f]Amaia[/name_f] " [name_f]Maia[/name_f] " [name_u]Leighton[/name_u] [name_u]Cooper[/name_u] (18) is Samâs closer sister in age and the middle child, currently in the process of finishing her A-Levels, so she can depart for university herself. With plans on studying sociology, Maiaâs someone very aware of all kinds of injustices and prejudices, having become well-aversed in these subject matters, partly because of her own experiences. When she was younger, [name_f]Maia[/name_f] was subject to speculation from certain adults as to why she didnât look much like her father, and one particularly unpleasant boy she was in school with even started a rumour that [name_f]Maia[/name_f] and her sistersâ were adopted, but that no-one had told them this. It culminated in a fight almost breaking out when [name_f]Maia[/name_f] was made aware of this, as in actuality her mother - who was of Iranian and Syrian heritage - was quite unwell throughout their childhoodâs and unable to do much physical activity while recovering, including picking them up from school.
[name_f]Maia[/name_f] was always the most overtly eager to engage in the culture of their mum, who sheâs thankful to see back to good health and spent a lot of time with even when she wasnât able to play games or go on trips with the family. She can speak and write Arabic with a lot of confidence now, having been aided in this quest by her aunt, who [name_f]Maia[/name_f] is prone to worrying about, as she feels she compromised a lot to support them, when other people would have hired a nanny or babysitter [not impossible for her dad given his salary and line of work]. While itâs obvious her aunt holds no resentment or has issues about her choices, [name_f]Maia[/name_f] wants to see her getting what will make her happiest going forwards, and being quite an adept eavesdropper [not that she uses the term], she knows her aunt hopes to have a baby of her own someday: a cousin for the nieces she adores so much.
When she isnât watching documentaries to improve her knowledge of societal issues or trying to comprehend economics more - she knows itâs important but itâs biggest success for [name_f]Maia[/name_f] is acting as a sleeping aid - skateboarding is her preferred pastime. Maiaâs also now the defacto authority where [name_u]Dorian[/name_u] is concerned: him being the first rescue of Samâs their parents allowed to keep - a lovely black and white short-haired cat whoâd been abandoned by a former neighbour of theirsâ. Cats are definitely her favourite pets, suiting the more illusive and aloof way [name_f]Maia[/name_f] holds herself up, as well as the fact she and [name_u]Dorian[/name_u] have a mutual appreciation for naps. Often, she finds her younger sister asking for advice - sheâs determined to be as mature as [name_u]Sam[/name_u] and [name_f]Maia[/name_f] already - which the middle daughter tries her best at giving, usually by trying to steer her sister away from anything that reeks of a toxic teenage clichĂ©.
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[name_f]Zara[/name_f] [name_f]Inaya[/name_f] [name_u]Cooper[/name_u] (14) is the youngest in her family, and the sister of [name_f]Maia[/name_f] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. [name_f]Zara[/name_f] is very close with her sisters, but with her being in her early teens, she wants to forge her own path for herself. While she follows a lot of Maiaâs advice, her sisters believe she is already trying to act older than she is, including by recently getting a boyfriend and being caught while sneaking out a few times. [name_f]Zara[/name_f] loves music, and plays several instruments, including cello, flute, piano, and electric bass. Unbeknownst to her sisters, she has recently started a band, where she is the lead singer and bass player. In fact, those times where she has had to sneak out was because her band was actually asked to play at the parties. Again, while she loves her sisters, she is afraid to tell them, especially [name_f]Maia[/name_f], about the band due to a lot of their advice having to do with not hanging with many of the people found at local concerts and parties.
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Elaine Mariette Bizou (14) is Zaraâs backing vocalists of her secret band. Like Zara, Elaine has an elder sister, 20-year-old Suzette. Suzette isnât the type to be strict but always feels people who need reality checks should get them. Suzette doesnât know about Elaineâs role in Zaraâs secret band but loves entertainment herself, being a podcaster. Elaine herself hates being the younger sister and thinks the term âbaby of the familyâ is embarrassing and would never use it. Something about Elaine is that while she is in a secret band, it doesnât mean that she doesnât care about grades in school. Elaine is smart, she just hasnât found in herself what sheâs looking for yet, and having high grades in school is her only consistency. Sheâs also an activist for clean water, both in the sense of clean oceans and for clean drinking water to people in need. She doesnât give a hoot about people who act like sheâs âtoo youngâ to make change and wonât stand for age discrimination, sheâll just keep going. Sheâs still one to support making good choices and hopes Zara isnât moving too far in the wrong direction. After all Zara is her friend and part of friendship is to be there for each other and help out. Elaine tends to be the type to think about others before herself, the main reason sheâs trying to find herself, and sheâs glad to be in the band because thatâs when she feels she has the most time for herself.
Suzette was created by me.
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[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_u]Collins[/name_u] (15) is another member of Zaraâs band. Sheâs the lead guitarist and also provides backing vocals. Her fraternal twin brother is the drummer, and theyâve bonded more by being a part of a band. Sophieâs parents know about their kidsâ involvement in the band and are very supportive. They arenât aware that [name_f]Zara[/name_f] and Elaineâs parents donât know about it. [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] was a little shocked when [name_f]Zara[/name_f] revealed she had a boyfriend. She also found herself feeling jealous. [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] has had a crush on her brotherâs friend, the sixteen-year-old keyboardist of the band, for three years now. As the only one with a driverâs license, heâs everyoneâs ride to the gigs. Their families are close and [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] hasnât been able to talk to him much unless he asks her something, prompting a realization of the crush from her brother. Heâs promised not to say anything and has, in his quiet way, been subtly encouraging her to speak up.
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] works part-time at her parentsâ cafe and is currently saving up to redecorate her room. In a couple more months, she should have just enough money. Sheâs also participating in a marathon held in a few months and has been running every morning before school to prepare. Her crush, who lives next door, joins her most mornings. They donât talk a lot, but [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] still enjoys it. Like [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] does well in school, though not counting maths, in which she struggles. She and [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] talk occasionally about their worries for [name_f]Zara[/name_f]. She seems to be determined in her pursuit of seeming older, and they hope nothing bad comes of it.
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cw: parental neglect
[name_f]Destiny[/name_f] [name_f]Alannah[/name_f] Outhewait (17) is someone Sophieâs vaguely acquainted with, as a musical associate of her crush, but she hasnât quite dared approach the older girl yet or mention her to the other band members, as Destinyâs reputation is one of being fairly cold. Sheâs not actually the ice queen some cite her to be - sheâs merely reserved, and much more confident when playing bass opposed to socialising at school - and the fact her bandâs called scream of ice-cream helps with dispelling some of the rumours regarding her reputation [Destiny finds it pretty funny actually]. What people do know is that Destinyâs home life wasnât ideal: sheâs been living with her grandparents since she was 9 thanks to her mother being a woman far more interested in pursuing a romantic partner than having a healthy approach to parenting. [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] was treated like a friend and most of the time her younger siblings - technical half-siblings, who are girl/boy twins and have just turned 11 - were left for her to care for, or âwatchâ as their mum called it [perhaps to deal with what guilt she faced treating them like accessories]. This led to the three being placed in the custody of her parents, who she had sporadic contact with - as she knew theyâd disapprove of her belief a husband would fix everything - and moving from Liverpool to Newcastle, where theyâve remained since.
The group formed by the younger teens havenât had much contact with scream of ice-cream because they perform different styles of music [Destinyâs band have a dreamy, almost surreal mingling of rock and jazz, designed to emulate the fantasy books that united the members with a modern edge], and also as the older scene tend to not involve themselves with those below 16; partly because younger kids tend to be less organised, but also because they find the urge to mature quick can lead to disastrous results. Sophieâs twin has suggested they reach out to some of said circle though, as [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] would be able to speak to her about not trying to grow up too fast, as sheâs a product of such a mentally - and while she has frustrations where her mumâs concerned that linger [they do have contact, but itâs seldom in person, as her mum now has a full-time job and is evidently ashamed to face the kids again], she knows getting pregnant at 16 and giving birth at 17 caused her to feel her youth was stolen, never mind the disappointment that ensued when Destinyâs biological father bounced.
What even [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] isnât aware of - she has some suspicions, but with her A-Levels underway, sheâs more embroiled in studying currently [wanting to attend music university more than anything] - is that another band has taken an interest in Sophieâs crushes abilities and want to ask him to also play for their group. This is something [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] doesnât do, as she knows it can stir up drama or lead to people stretching themselves too thin, which is why no-oneâs letting her know as sheâd strongly voice her opinions against the idea. [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] has handed on some of her musical knowledge to her siblings - sheâs casually taught her brother some piano songs and her sisterâs a cellist - but the three are in agreement theyâd never form a group together: theyâre all way too prone to headstrong notions and Destinyâs convinced their grandparents would be driven mad by practice, as scream for ice-cream benefits from one of their membes having a large garage that makes for perfect rehearsal space.
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