connections ➯ chris evans

056 ➸ "I'M ALWAYS IN"

   Chris ran onto the set as fast as he could in his costume, but the disappointment behind Arden's cool stare proved that he was truly too late.

   "Where were you?" Anthony asked as he walked onto the set, making final adjustments to the apparatus of what will be his falcon wings—you know, once all the movie magic is done.

   "I went to buy some supplies for tonight." Chris replied, hoping Arden doesn't inquire further. He thought he was successful until he felt her presence behind him as she said "What's tonight?"

   Chris turned his body to face Arden, who looked at him with an expectant look on her face and her arms crossed. She wasn't mad at him for being late, but would rather be dead than miss out on an opportunity to make Chris flustered.

   "Well, I'm having a boys night since we don't have to film tomorrow. It's gonna involve manly things, like beer and stuff." He replied, his voice stuttering as he lowered it an octave, as if he had to prove his masculinity.

   "Oh, I like beer! I'll even bring some sort of dip and a tape of all the Pats games last year!" Arden chirped. Chris's eyes lit up at the sound of the New England Patriots, a team he'd actually die for.

   "You don't have to bring the Pats tape, I already have all their seasons from 1981 on." Chris replied, his mind wandering off about their past season.

   "Wait, are you saying I can go?" Arden questioned, blatantly surprised Chris was actually going to give up that easy.

   "Yeah, I was just joking about it being a guy party. I just hadn't brought it up to you yet. You in?" he responded, grabbing his shield as he prepared for the scene that they were about to shoot.

   "I'm always in."

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   "Chug! Chug! Chug!" was the only thing that rang through Arden's ears as she downed her second beer. She had only chugged a beer once before and it was at a college frat party her freshman year. So, it's safe to say that this time went a lot better.

   "Go Arden!" Scarlett yelled, her laughter infectious as Arden joined in while she went to grab a water.

   "You want anything, Scar?" she asked, twisting the cap off the bottle of water.

   "Red Bull and vodka?" Scarlett replied hopefully. Arden nodded before making the drink and handing it over to Scarlett. Scarlett nodded in thanks before taking a drink.

   Arden found her way to the couch and sat down, needing a break from all the wild drinking they were doing, despite a few of them being well past their prime for that. She saw Renner passed out on a chair near her and giggled a bit, noticing a bit of slobber running down his face.

   Sprawling herself out on the couch, she took another sip of water as she enjoyed the buzz of drunkenness. It was a feeling she didn't endure many times because of how she felt the morning after, but tonight she just didn't give a shit.

   As she laid there staring at the roof, she felt a pressure on her lower legs. She looked up to see it was Lizzie, who was flailing everywhere. Obviously a lightweight, Arden got up and helped Liz lay down before taking the beer from her. Arden took a swig before she set it down and relocated to another area, this time choosing the patio outside.

   When she walked out, she met the warm and humid air the accompanied the Atlanta summer, breathing it in as she sat down and put her legs up on the patio table, this time looking at the stars that illuminated the sky.