Privatee ; One On One ♥

[xx_p i n k cookie]

Your Dealiest Sin . . .

Joie walked out her room in her costume, turning around to show it off to Aeron. She walked up to him in her heels and he nodded in his approval. Even with heels on, she was still shorter than him. She walked over to her roommate's room and knocked on the door. "Lemme see ya costume ma." She said, trying to make sure they weren't wearing the same thing. Plus she wanted to see if it fit her. She would at least help the girl out since they were roommates, even if she didn't know her name. She looked over to Aeron. "You know here name?" She whispered. He nodded and told her. Once she found out her name, she make sure to remember it. The girl wasn't ugly, especially since Aeron remembered her name. Once the door open, she nodded in approval. "You want any green make up or anything?" She asked while turning her around like they best friends. She barely talk to the girl, actually did was the longest conversation they really had. They had nothing in common and Joie tend to stay away from girls. She only messed with boys. "Aight, I'll see you at the party ma." She looked over at Aeron. "You waiting on her?" She asked and he nodded. "Aight then, see you later." She walked out the room and made her way downstairs since the party was at the frat's house. She walked there alone and could the music, down the street. She was ready to make somebody her victim tonight.

Aeron nodded his head in approval. He couldn't lie and say she didn't look good when she did. He sat back down on the couch and watched her go over Desiree's room and demand to see her costume like she was a boss, which she was. She loved to be in control and hated to be turned down. Aeron always gave her, her way so in a way he spoiled her to death like his parents did him. "Desiree" He whispered. Desiree had finally opened the door and he liked what she was wearing. They both looked good, equally. With that being said, Joie left. He decided to wait on Desiree to get ready. "You look nice ma...lemme know when you ready to go. I'll be out here waiting." He didn't really get dressed up for parties like this. He just liked to see what the ladies was wearing. It was just another reason to get the girls out their clothes and have them half naked. He already knew how frat parties were.


{ joie & aeron }

[GUMMi B3AR L0LLiP0P]

[ S h a k u r & D e s i r e e `

The Saints Of Monroe College ☯ ;

Shakur walked into the party looking like a swagged out gangsta all the way. He had a bulls snapback, a black wife beater, camo`s and matching black and red chucks. He had a chain around his neck and his favorite grill in his mouth. Got his double tape and everything. Shawdy was looking GOOD. He felt the music pumping through him and plus, he had just smoked a few blunts before he got here. He was feeling amazing, and Shakur started doing all the old dances. Wutang, Crip walk, everything. Shakur grabbed a beer out of someones hands and gulped it. He wanted to get lose and have a lot of fun tonight. Looking at the door, his mouth dropped when he seen his best friend. He didn`t know the wallflower could look so good once she threw on something to show off her curves.

Desiree` pulled on her outfit and checked herself out in the mirror. It was a tight and strapless black indian dress with turquoise designs in it. She had a black head band with a turquoise feather in her long and way hair. Her black and turquoise heels were tall and sexy, something she wasn`t used to being. Looking in the mirror at herself, she almost had seconds doubt. Hearing the knock on the door, and the demanding tone, Desi opened up the door. Joie seemed pleased and asked her if she wanted any makeup. "No thank you, I appreciate the offer though." Desiree` replied before fixing her hair a little more wavy. She walked out of the room and was surprised to see Aeron still sitting in their common room. She blushed and smiled soft, "Thank you Aeron...I hope I do. I`m not used to wearing things like this." She said before applying a small layer of eyeliner so she could give herself a more Indian look before stepping out of her room. "Why didn`t you want go with your... with Joie?" Catching herself from calling her his girlfriend. She grabbed his hand to help him up since they were finally ready to go.

[xx_p i n k cookie]

Your Dealiest Sin . . .

Joie walked into the party dancing. She walked over to the drinks and grabbed whatever they handed her. She loved drinking, smoking, anything that got her in the mood to party like crazy. She walked into the kitchen and looked for more stuff to drink. She grabbed some punch that probably had a ton of alcohol mixed in it and drank a couple of that. She had a high tolerance to alcohol so the most she would ever get is tipsy. She walked into the living and started dancing with some dude until she spotted Shakur in the crowd and smirked. At least she knew he was here. She turned around to the dude, wrapping her arms around him. "Where's weed?" She asked while grinding on him and he pointed into another room and she was off. She walked in the room and they were already passing it around. She cut into the circle and took a seat next to the leader of the frat and whispered in his ear, which made automatically put her in the circle. She took a couple puffs before passing it. She hated sharing so she grabbed some weed off the table and started rolling up her own blunt to blow...more like a couple. She climbed out the circle because she wasn't sharing her s**t and lit from as she walked around the house, looking for Shakur. She seen him talk to Desiree and walked up to him. "Hey cutie..." She smile while blowing the smoke to the side away from his face. She looked him up and down before touching his stomach to see if he had body and that he did. "Nice six pack..." She whispered while touching each one of them. She didn't care if she made him uncomfortable. She looked over at Desiree and realized that she was probably being rude. "Oh, wait were you guys talking?" She asked while looking between both of them. "My bad..." She laughed before walking away, smoking. She started dancing with some dude that was not too far away from Shakur. She started grinding on him.

Aeron looked up at Desiree and smiled. "No problem ma. You should do it more often." He told her as she applied a little eyeliner. Females and all the time they waste to look pretty when most of them need to wear the make up for instance. Joie...she didn't need any make up on her face, but she still applied a little. He never understood why. She had grabbed his hand and helped him off the couch. He almost laughed in her face when she was about to say his girlfriend. He shook her head while laughing a little. "Joie isn't my girlfriend if that's what you were bout to say. She more like my sister or bestfriend." He explained. He had to put best friend in there because sisters don't do what she did. "I know you thought she was because the way she all up on me, but that's how Joie shows her affection. Do ya'll even talk?" He asked, looking at her. He could tell they didn't because she would've known that Joie is a touchy person even if she out of line with. She do what she wants. They walked out the door and Desiree locked up. They walked down to the party, talking about all types of stuff. They finally made it to the party. "I'll catch up with you a little later..." He whispered in her ear and winked at her before walking off to get something to drink and get into the circle so he could smoke.


{ joie & aeron }

[GUMMi B3AR L0LLiP0P]

[ S h a k u r & D e s i r e e `

The Saints Of Monroe College ☯ ;

Shakur was just chugging beer and taking shots with his fellow Kappas. He just wasn`t as flashy as his other homeboys was about being a Kappa, he was the one that liked to keep things downlow. He wasn`t very much of bragger because his mama taught him to be humble. He grinned goofily and walked back into the living room to see what females were twerking enough to his liking. He got behind one female with a fat a**. Yes he was a virtue, but he was also a boy. He enjoyed the dance he was receiving until he seen his best friend walk into the dance with Aeron. What in the hell happened here? WAS that his best friend? She looked so different, so sexy instead of that innocent beauty she had. Damn, she cleaned up good. He watched her say bye to Aeron before she spotted Shakur and she waved. He waved back and they met in the middle with a hug. "Hey Shakur!" She said with a radiant smile. He hugged her again and looked her up and down. "Damnnn girllll, whooo dis is!? dis shoo aint da Desiree` I know. Cus dis mami lookin F I N E!" He said in his ghetto voice before laughing and carrying on the conversation before Joie walked up. He smiled and politely looked to Desiree` to make sure it was fine. He knew she wouldn`t care so he turned his attention back to Joie "How you doin gorgeous?" He asked before feeling her petite little hands rubbing on his abs. He wasn`t much uncomfortable, just a little suprised at the gesture. She kept talking and he just smiled. "Thank you love, and we were but" He shrugged to let her know it didn`t hurt anything. Watching her walk off, he smirked at how her hips swayed before he departed from Desi to dance with the fat booty chick from earlier.

Desiree` absolutely HATED the way she was always blushing when Aeron talked to her. She wasn`t a stranger to the opposite sex, its just she`s never really showed them the infatuation every highschool girl went through. She worked and kept her a job at the animal shelter. She never really had time for boys. But now things were so much different, and she didn`t know how to take it. She shook her head at his question and chewed her bottom lip. "No not really. Today was probably our longest conversation." She stated before walking out the door and making sure it was locked. It was actually nice just talking with him on their walk there. Finally coming into the party, she nodded her head to Aeron and smiled. "Aight." She turned her attention to Shakur and waved before walking up to him. Her best ******** friend in the whole wide world. They were having a casual conversation before Joie stepped in and took over. Desi wasn`t really one to catch an attitude, or get mad over small s**t. So she politely let Joie do what she did best. Once they were done talking, she waved goodbye to Shakur before making her way to the dance floor. Some reggaeton music came over the loud speakers and immediately she went to the one thing she was comfortable in, dancing. Her Jamaican ways started coming back to her as she danced. She popped it, dropped it, jiggled it, and a lot of dudes that danced with her just couldn`t hold their ground. This girl could twerk something. You know how Jamaicans get down, might as well be ******** on the dance floor, but Desiree made it sexy and even kinda classy.

[xx_p i n k cookie]

Your Dealiest Sin . . .

Joie scoffed when he stopped her and started talking about taking advantage of her. She wasn't that drunk to not know what was going on. She looked at him and rolled her eyes. Nobody ever denied her and she respected herself, but her love for sex was greater. She started back kissing on his neck, but he pushed her off again. That's when she caught an attitude. Nobody turned her down and she always got her way. "What...? you gay or something?" She snapped while getting off of him. "What does respect has to do with ******** buddies anyway..it's not like I want a ********' relationship.." She said as she walked out the room to find Aeron, she couldn't believe this s**t. How can you turn down this? She didn't want to hear all that respect bullshit? Her daddy didn't have respect for her so she didn't need respect for somebody else. When she didn't see Aeron downstairs at the party, she started looking through bedrooms until she found him talking to Desiree. They both looked at him and she slammed the door shut before making her way over to Aeron.

Aeron couldn't help, but laughed at her assumptions. She was assuming a lot and they just met today. She came over and sat down to him. "Understood, so tell me about yourself. What you like to do...i don't know something," He said while looking her up and down before looking her in the eye. She was pretty, but she wasn't bad. She didn't have the personality for it nor the confidence, which he didn't like, but he'd let it slide this time. They were having a good conversation before somebody busted in the room. He was about to straight go off until he seen it Joie. He knew off the back, she was mad, but what it was about...he didn't know. She made her way over to him and Desiree and just went straight into it. "What the ******** is wrong with that dude? He act like I wanted to get to know the mfer. I just wanted to ******** and be out or be ******** buddies. He gone turn me down...getting into that respect bullshit.... ******** that s**t man. I'm not for all that...foa tho." She said as her cuban accent came out more. Aeron looked at Desiree. "Excuse us..." He said as he pulled Joie to the side. "Calm down, ma.." He said as he fixed her dress for her. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. "You already know how I get if I don't get what I want Aeron. It's just ********' sex...no big deal right. I had a condom for his a**..." She said as Aeron looked at her like she was crazy and she let him go, straighting out his shirt. "Sorry..." She said. "Joie, it's plenty of other niggas down there." "I don't want them..." "Joie..." "Aeron..." He guess her the eye. [******** this s**t & that punk a** ********, I'm going to my dorm. Go chill with yo b***h...See you later..." With that she walked out the room. He looked over at Desiree, overhearing the conversation and sat down. "Sorry bout that. Don't mind her, what were you saying?" He asked.



{ joie & aeron }

[GUMMi B3AR L0LLiP0P]

[ S h a k u r & D e s i r e e `

The Saints Of Monroe College ☯ ;

Shakur was enjoying the lapdance he was recieving and he grabbed a punch cup someone handed him and he downed it. He was a little surprised when Joie so.... abrasively pushed the girl off him and took her place. He was surprised at how forward she was being to be honest. He wasn`t used to a girl just throwing herself at him like that. He was especially shocked when she basically kissed him. It was too loud to reject her, maybe she just wanted to talk, Skakur thought naively as he followed the beautiful woman up the stairs into the room. Being pushed on the bed, Shakur just stared as she started dancing for him and climbing up in his lap. Her kisses on his neck left him in a trance before he realized he didn`t want to do this with Joie yet. Softly moving her to look at him and making her stop seducing him, he looked at her with confused eyes. "Joie I can`t do this with you. You`re already a little drunk and I don`t want to take advantage of you. Plus you deserve a little more respect than to just ******** you on the first night." He said, knowing she wasn`t about to like his answer. But oh well, if she didn`t respect herself, he sure did.

Desiree` was just throwing her hips and working her body like a pro. She wasn`t ashamed of the way her dancing got down. Someone grabbed her waist and she automatically went into 'work that n***a' mode. She grinded and popped on him, finally letting her shyness go. Thats why she liked dancing, her confidence shone. Aeron whispered in her ear, surprising her and making a chill go down her spine. She thought he had left her for the night. She wondered what had brought him back to her. Guess it was her bad a** dancing moves. He pulled her through the crowd and to a room, her mind racing. She was still a virgin, sex wouldn`t be a option right now. Sitting down at the bed, she watched him size her up and before he could say one word she interrupted. "Uh I know other girls would be killing to be in a room alone with you, but I aint like that. So if you just tryna sleep with me, you might as well get back on to the party." She said chewing on her bottom lip. She blushed hard once he laughed at her and said he just wanted to talk. To be black, she hated how much she turned red. She looked down at the floor than sat on the bed beside him. "I`m sorry I keep assuming, It`s just things from times of the past." She said sighing, knowing alot of boys were dogs. Something she knew her heart would never be able

[xx_p i n k cookie]

Your Dealiest Sin . . .

Joie scoffed when he stopped her and started talking about taking advantage of her. She wasn't that drunk to not know what was going on. She looked at him and rolled her eyes. Nobody ever denied her and she respected herself, but her love for sex was greater. She started back kissing on his neck, but he pushed her off again. That's when she caught an attitude. Nobody turned her down and she always got her way. "What...? you gay or something?" She snapped while getting off of him. "What does respect has to do with ******** buddies anyway..it's not like I want a ********' relationship.." She said as she walked out the room to find Aeron, she couldn't believe this s**t. How can you turn down this? She didn't want to hear all that respect bullshit? Her daddy didn't have respect for her so she didn't need respect for somebody else. When she didn't see Aeron downstairs at the party, she started looking through bedrooms until she found him talking to Desiree. They both looked at him and she slammed the door shut before making her way over to Aeron.

Aeron couldn't help, but laughed at her assumptions. She was assuming a lot and they just met today. She came over and sat down to him. "Understood, so tell me about yourself. What you like to do...i don't know something," He said while looking her up and down before looking her in the eye. She was pretty, but she wasn't bad. She didn't have the personality for it nor the confidence, which he didn't like, but he'd let it slide this time. They were having a good conversation before somebody busted in the room. He was about to straight go off until he seen it Joie. He knew off the back, she was mad, but what it was about...he didn't know. She made her way over to him and Desiree and just went straight into it. "What the ******** is wrong with that dude? He act like I wanted to get to know the mfer. I just wanted to ******** and be out or be ******** buddies. He gone turn me down...getting into that respect bullshit.... ******** that s**t man. I'm not for all that...for real." She said as her cuban accent came out. Aeron looked at Desiree. "Excuse us..." He said as he pulled Joie to the side. "Calm down, ma.." He said as he fixed her dress for her. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. "You already know how I get if I don't get what I want Aeron. It's just ********' sex...no big deal right. I had a condom for his a**..." She said as Aeron looked at her like she was crazy and she let him go, straighting out his shirt. "Sorry..." She said. "Joie, it's plenty of other niggas down there." "I don't want them..." "Joie..." "Aeron..." He gave her the eye. [******** this s**t & that punk a** ********, I'm going to my dorm. Go chill with yo b***h...See you later..." With that she walked out the room. He looked over at Desiree, overhearing the conversation and sat down. "Sorry bout that. Don't mind her, what were you saying?" He asked.



{ joie & aeron }

[GUMMi B3AR L0LLiP0P]

[ S h a k u r & D e s i r e e `

The Saints Of Monroe College ☯ ;

Shakur liked the way she touched and kissed him... but no. His mama had taught him better than that. When he pushed her back, she had caught the attitude he expected. He looked at her like he was stupid. "Gay? Oh no, I`m a p***y man I`m just sayin." He shrugged his shoulders. "Look, sorry I`m not that type of guy...." He was going to finish the sentence but Shakur just watched her walk out the room. Joie was pretty spoiled, she was a brat. He rolled his eyes, thanking God he dodged that bullet at least somewhat. He went back into the party to take his mind off her little temper tantrum and got his drinking back up to par. He took so many shots and bottles of beer, he was so ******** up he was slurring a little and stumbling around. The party was finally over and he stumbled home laughing. Seeing Joie, he got a little irritated and walked right up to her. Drunk as he was, he spun her around and decided to give her a piece of mind. "How you gon be mad at me when all I`m doin is bein a gentleman? EXCUSE ME for not just looking at your a** and titties and wanting to ******** you. It`s woman like you that turn real men like me into an a*****e!" He didn`t care what she had to say after that and walked his a** right back to his dorm. He needed to go to sleep.

Desiree` let a small smile grace her lips. "Well; I like dancing, drawing, I love psychology. I`m gonna be a personality reader for like the FBI and whatnot for their serial killers." She realized she was probably creeping him out by saying she evaluated people so she quickly changed the subject. "Tell me about the wonderful, ohh so handsome Aeron." She said with a playful smirk, and crossed her legs; It was nice to just be sitting in here, talking to him. She only liked dancing, the rest of the atmosphere wasn`t really her thing. Shakur was definitely a drinker though, he`d take any alcohol shot, game, anything. She was about to keep talking when Joie busted in mad as hell. She just watched and kept quiet politely as they spoke. Desi waited until they were done when she bit on her bottom lip. "I don`t know, maybe it`s getting a little late." She said, checking to see it was already two in the morning, plus she had an exam. She stood and bent to kiss his cheek. "It was nice talking to you Aeron, it was alot better than being with the drunks. But please enjoy the rest of your night, I have exams in the morning." She waved and smiled before walking out the room with an unintentional switch in her hips. She walked slowly to the dorm room, inhaling the smoke free air.

[xx_p i n k cookie]

Your Dealiest Sin . . .

Joie was walking home when somebody grabbed her and spent her around to face. Once she realized who it was, she immediately snatched. [******** YOU ********] She yelled as he walked away and she walked into her building and up to her dorm. She took out her keys and unlocked the door. She slammed it behind her before going to her room and slamming that door too. She didn't care if she was spoiled. It's not like her parents spoiled her. They didn't give a s**t about her or what she did. She was born into an unwanted, ungrateful family. She didn't what real love was or anything so she didn't care to learn. She only loved Aeron and that was it. He treated her like his sister and took care of her like one. His parents don't like her and feels that she's only friends with him because he keep spending money her, but if he went broke today, she would help him out...at least try to. She took her clothes off and put on some pajamas and laid down in her bed. Joie didn't have time for this s**t.

Aeron didn't even get a chance to have a decent conversation with the girl before she left. Joie ruined it like she would all the time. She could be so selfish at times, but he made her like this. He got up and followed her out, going there separate ways. He walked back to his dorm where Shakur was already there, drunk as ********. He shook his head and walked past him. "See you in the morning." He said before closing his door to his room. He had to figure out what to do with Joie and these temper tantrums and how to get some alone time with Desiree to talk to her.

The next morning, Aeron woke up, brushed his teeth and see his Shakur watching tv on the couch so he thought to try to converse with him. "Yo, what's up?" He asked as he sat down and plopped his feet up on the coffee table they had in there, watching my wife and kids. Joie woke up and decided to cook breakfast since that's what she did when she was upset. She was a natural cook. She loved cooking and she would cook up a storm for Aeron whenever he said he was hungry and didn't know what he wanted. She knocked on Desiree's door. "Breakfast in the kitchen when you get hungry..." She sat down on the couch and turned on the tv to oxygen and watched a rewind of back girls club. She should be on there, but she ain't 21 yet. She had apologize to Aeron about messing up him and Desiree convo last night,



{ joie & aeron }

[GUMMi B3AR L0LLiP0P]

[ S h a k u r & D e s i r e e `

The Saints Of Monroe College ☯ ;

Shakur awoke the next morning with a TERRIBLE hangover. He groaned since he didn`t even have any classes today, but was still awake pretty early. He walked into the kitchen and popped some advils before going into the living room and turning on the tv. He was in there a while before Aeron walked in. He propped his feet up while Shakur was just laughing at the show. "Shitt waitin for this medicine to kick in and waitin on Desi to come chill after her exams. Wasgud potna`?" He asked with friendly smile. Shakur thought Aeron was a pretty good, but not the someone for Desiree`. He could tell he was getting to her a little bit, and didn`t like it too much. He wasn`t the type for speaking down on something, so he kept to himself most times. He grabbed a bowl on some cereal right quick, and came back in chomping.

Desiree` dressed in a simple outfit today. A black lace tank top with a pink lace shirt over it, black jeans and her only pair of pink pumps. She decided to leave her hair curly, and just throw a pink headband to keep it out her face. Joie knocked on her door and told her that breakfast ready. Joie cooked? She walked out and said a good morning before going into the kitchen to get some brain energy before her test.Sticking a bite in her mouth, she quickly ate the rest and drank her a glass of mouth. Her mouth dropped in amazement. Tasted just like a home made meal from granma it was so good. "Girllll you can throw down in the kitchen. That was amazing, thank you." She said graciously as she grabbed her pencil and a purse. "See you later, I`m off to class!"

Finally getting out of class, she walked to Shakur`s dorm and knocked on the door. Shakur smiled goofily as he opened it up for her and she walked in. "Hey KurKurr!" She teased him with an old nickname. One he said was childish and needed to die immediately. Her gave her the stale face and she laughed. "Hey Desi,sheesh kill the nickname." She smiled before bending over to set her stuff down and seeing Shakur wave at someone. She stood back up and turned around seeing Aeron. "Oh! Hey Aeron." She said with a smile before seating herself down on the couch.

[xx_p i n k cookie]

Your Dealiest Sin . . .

Joie was in the middle of her tv show when Desiree complimented her cooking. "Thanks mami..." She smiled while turning back to look at the tv. "See you later..." Desiree had walked out the suite and her phone vibrated. She opened it up and seen it was text from Aeron, telling her to come over & chill. She didn't have anything else to do so she might as well. She put the rest of the food on two plates for Aeron and washed the dishes before leaving out. She got dress and something fitted with a pair of heels. She always wore heels every where she went. She walked over to his building and went up to his suite and knocked on the door. Once the door, opened her smile faded. Desiree was already here. She walked into the suit and looked at Aeron, handing him the plates.

Aeron looked over at Sakur for a minute. "I'm waiting on Joie to come over..." He said while looking back at the tv. He didn't know who she was talking about last night, but she could always give Shakur out a try since the one didn't work out well for her. Shakur went and got the door and Desiree was calling him some goofy nickname. I guess they knew each other well. he didn't know, but it was whatever if they were talking and what not. "Hey Desiree..." He smiled and waved before turning back to the tv. There was another knock at the door and Shakur answered it again. He turned to see Joie and got up from the couch as she walked over to him, handing him his plates of food. He kissed on the cheek. "Thanks bae." He said as he went into the kitchen. She followed him, right on his tail. "Aeron, that's the ******** I was telling you about...why didn't you tell me that he was your roommate?" She asked and he sighed. "Because you never told me his name...memba?" He asked as he walked back over to Shakur and Desiree. "Ya'll hungry cause she can throw down in the kitchen...no lie." He offered.


{ joie & aeron }

[GUMMi B3AR L0LLiP0P]

[ S h a k u r & D e s i r e e `

The Saints Of Monroe College ☯ ;

Shakur shook his head. "Joie is something else." Soon as he said her name, there was another knock at the door. Being the man he was, he walked up to it and opened it. It being Joie made it just a tad bit awkward as she stepped into the dorm room. Shakur sat down beside Desiree`, and while Joie was talking to Aeron in the kitchen, he was talking to her. "Mane Desi, Joie kept wantin to ******** me last night, and you know how I do females, dat just aint me. And she really snapped on me cuhh! For RESPECTIN her I get cursed out." He said with a pout, a little irritated from last night. Shakur nodded to Aeron but shook his head. "I`d love to try but s**t I just ate." He said rubbing his stomach. Cereal always filled up Shakur.

Desiree shook her head as well. "No thank you, she had already made me some this morning. My mouth was in heaven, I know." She said with a cute smile, and she pulled out her art assignment. Her wall of graffiti looked exceptionally real. She was always proud of her artwork. She continued adding the final touches. The artwork had sea animals and fish of all different colors, but in a graffiti form. It was a masterpiece if Desi had anything to say about it. Shakur looked it over and nodded his head. "Girl somebody gon give you a HUGE paying job for art work like THAT." He said. Shakur had a Bob Marley poster up in his room that Desi` had drawn just for him that said Shakur`s Room in smoke letters from Marley`s blunt. It was fly as ********.