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Post by alex on Jun 18, 2011 13:57:34 GMT -5
He was going to kill that man one day. That was the thought going through Alex’s mind as he stormed out of his house, slamming the door behind him. Tucked under his arm was a folder, containing various sheets of paper and assignments from school. He had no plan to return to that house today. Perhaps he’d stay out all night. It wouldn’t be hard. He could go hang out in the coffee shop and the mall until they closed up. Then he’d probably end up going to the cinema. Anything to be out of his step-father’s way. His first stop was Starbucks. The plan was to get a coffee and do the math homework that his teacher had set him earlier that day. As he walked away, the sounds of the shouting and arguing slowly faded. Would they even notice if he didn’t bother coming home for the night?
Pretty soon he was walking up the main street in Lipton. He was starting to calm down, the anger that had been directed towards his step-father subsiding. By the time he reached the coffee shop, he was perfectly calm again. As he pushed open the door of the building and walked in, he noticed how busy it was. There were only a couple of tables left and so he quickly joined the queue, not wanting to have to stand around waiting for somebody to leave. “I’ll have a cappuccino please.” It didn’t take long for his drink to be made and Alex headed straight for a table once it was done, sitting down and sliding his folder on to the table. Whilst he waited for his drink to cool, he opened his folder and pulled a pen out of his pocket. He kept his head down, aware that people had been staring in the queue at the bruise on his cheek. Normally that wouldn’t draw attention, but he also had a bandage on his lower arm, which he absent-mindedly was fiddling with as he looked over the first problem.
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Post by mikayla leigh james on Jun 20, 2011 4:05:05 GMT -5
"Alex!" Kayla grinned, spotting him from a distance across the shop. She scooped up her bag and phone in one hand and her coffee in the other and hurried across the shop. "Hey!" she giggled as she approached him from behind, ruffling up his hair affectionately. "That maths work will be the death of me I sw..." She stopped suddenly as she walked around to the spare chair and noticed his new injuries. Her heart sunk a little and her smile faded, replaced instead by a furrowed frown.
"What happened?" She enquired softly as she sat down opposite, her eyes meeting with his sadly.
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Post by alex on Jun 20, 2011 5:21:40 GMT -5
Methodically Alex started to work through the sheet of problems, every now and then taking a sip of coffee. His concentration was broken though when he heard his name shouted across the shop. He looked up and a grin spread across his face as he saw one of his best friends, Kayla hurrying towards him. They’d grown up together and she could always be counted on to cheer him up when he was having a bad day. And yet, despite the trust Alex placed in her, he still hadn’t told her about the abuse he suffered through at home. In the back of his mind, he knew that she or some of his other close friends must have an idea of what was going on. He had too many injuries, too frequently to be able to just claim to be the clumsiest person on the planet. “Hey Kayla.”
He listened and nodded as she complained about the math homework they’d been set. It was definitely awful and quite difficult. As her voice tailed off though, the grin on his face faded too. She’d noticed. Well of course she had, the bruise was new and had not yet faded. And the bandage was very obvious as well. She sat down opposite, asking the inevitable question. His eyes met hers and he looked away, unable to meet her gaze. “I dropped a glass, and then slipped on the water that had been in the glass. It’s nothing. Just me being a klutz like usual.” It was of course a lie. Apart from the part about the glass causing the injury, and that he had broken it. The part about him slipping though wasn’t true. “So, have you done this yet?” he asked, gesturing to the sheet of paper on the table. Yes, he was trying to change the subject and he hoped that Kayla would just let him do so. |
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Post by mikayla leigh james on Jun 20, 2011 5:46:53 GMT -5
Kayla nibbled on the inside of her lip, wondering whether to probe further or just let him be. She knew deep down that this wasn't just another accident and yet she almost wanted to believe it. She didn't want to think that someone was doing this to Alex. She didn't want to confront the fact that he was hurting and couldn't tell her why.
"You're not safe to be left on your own" She giggled half-heartedly.
"You know Alex," She continued with more seriousness "I'm always here for you.." She took his hand in hers and stroked it gently with her thumb "..you're my best friend and if you need someone to talk to or somewhere to stay, just say."
Kayla gave him a little smile, sensing that this may be enough. "No, it's giving me hell in all honesty" She sighed, nodding towards the page of maths work. She pointed to her head and pulled a face "We all know it's just air in here"
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Post by alex on Jun 20, 2011 10:01:32 GMT -5
In the silence that followed his excuse, Alex looked down at the table, and his homework. Now that Kayla was here, he probably wasn’t going to get much done. It was much more fun and interesting to talk to his friend. He got the sense that she didn’t really believe his excuse, but like he was hoping, seemed to not want to press the issue. At her comment, he forced a laugh. He had to go along with it, even though he’d probably be as healthy as the next person if he were on his own. “Yeah, I think I must be pretty high up there in the list of the world’s clumsiest people.”
As her tone turned more serious, Alex looked up, meeting her gaze. Her offer of support made him smile and not for the first time, he wondered why he hadn’t told her what was going on. It took all of his self-control to not flinch at her touch. Pretty much the only time that someone touched him was with the intent of injuring him. But this was Kayla. She wouldn’t ever hurt him. Like she said, he could trust her. He smiled up at her and spoke gently. “Thanks.”
He gave a slight sigh of relief as his change of subject worked. A smile, this time genuine appeared on his face as she complained about how difficult the homework was. It was difficult, that was certain. Alex liked a challenging assignment though. After all, it meant he’d generally have to spend longer on it. “I know, I think Mr Butler is trying to punish us or something, although I don’t know what we’ve done to deserve this.” He picked up his drink and finished off the last little bit in the cup, smiling and chuckling as Kayla pointed at her head. “Oh, absolutely. I do wonder how you’ve made it this far.” His light tone of voice made it clear that he was joking around. “You doing anything at the weekend? Only I need to study for the history test and it’s always more fun to study with someone else?" |
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Post by mikayla leigh james on Jun 20, 2011 10:31:32 GMT -5
Somehow Kayla just couldn't believe anyone was that clumsy. But still, it was clear he didn't want to talk to her about what was really going on. As much as that fact saddened her, she must respect it.
"I know!" she exclaimed as the topic moved onto the maths work. "Perhaps it was something to do with that time someone glued his coffee mug to the table before our maths class." Kayla snorted with laughter as she remembered it "I swear he's had it in for us since then."
"And Alex!" she squeeled, faking outrage "That was when you were supposed to tell me that no, I am infact blessed with both beauty and brains!". She pouted as sulkily as she could for a second before her mouth worked it's way into a grin and she let out a giggle.
"This weekend, no I'm not busy, history revision sounds good." Kayla pondered that one for a second. "Well actually history revision sounds crap, but hanging with my best friend sounds like an amazing plan! We could get a takeaway or something if you want?" |
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Post by alex on Jun 20, 2011 13:11:23 GMT -5
As their conversation turned to the escapades of their maths class which had upset the teacher, Alex grinned and laughed. Kayla could always be counted on to make him laugh and cheer him up if he was having a bad day, which was most days to be quite honest. “Or it could be that time that we hid all his whiteboard pens so that he couldn’t write on the board for a whole lesson. Do you think he ever found the pens?” Alex too laughed at the memories of what their class had got up to. They certainly weren’t the best behaved class in the school that was certain. “It certainly explains why he thinks horrible assignments like this one are suitable.”
Her mock outrage only made him laugh harder. It was clear that she wasn’t actually upset with him, he could tell that by her voice and the squealing. “Well, you are beautiful. I’ll give you that one. And I suppose…” he paused, pretending to ponder the matter. “I suppose you must have some brains to have made it to junior year.” Alex smiled at her as he said that.
“That’s good then. I hate studying on my own, it’s so boring.” He agreed with her in that that actual revision was awful, but it was always nice to spend the day in the company of a friend. “Yeah, takeaway and revision sounds like a plan. Is it alright if we do it at your place? Mum has friends over and won’t appreciate us two getting in the way.” That was true, but Alex was also always looking for any excuse to spend time away from his own home and hoped that Kayla would agree to them revising at her house.
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Post by mikayla leigh james on Jun 20, 2011 13:50:47 GMT -5
"Oh my god, I had completely forgotton about that!" Kayla cackled "I like to think he's still looking for them you know". Kayla sat with a big smile on her face for a few moments, staring into space as she relived the experience in her mine. "Perhaps we do deserve this after all" she concluded, flicking the maths papers loathingly.
Kayla smiled coyly at his compliment, her cheeks flushing just slightly pink. How embarassing, she thought, her best friend had called her beautiful and now she was blushing. If that didn't look like an awkward 'I have a crush on you moment', she didn't know what did."Some brains.." she gasped dramatically, trying to avoid him realising she was blushing. She giggled whilst trying to look serious "You can go off people you know Alex!".
Kayla nodded in agreeance at his suggestion "Yeah, of course, my house is fine" Kayla smiled, glad really of this. Perhaps if it was just them, away from his family, he might open up a bit. Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking.. |
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Post by alex on Jun 20, 2011 15:18:26 GMT -5
This conversation showed exactly why he liked hanging out with Kayla. Her happiness was always contagious and rarely did Alex come out of a conversation with her having not laughed. “Considering that he had some more the next lesson, I’m thinking he either found them or bought some new ones.” An idea came to him for the end of the year and he smiled, quickly telling it to Kayla. “Maybe we should buy him some board pens at the end of the year, as a leaving present from us, for a joke.” He couldn’t help but laugh at the loathing in her voice as she looked at the paper between them. “I think that perhaps we do.”
He smiled back at her after his remark about her being beautiful and noticed that she was blushing. He hadn’t meant to do that at all. His comment had simply been a spur of the moment thing and he hadn’t meant it as a compliment, even though it was one. Suddenly feeling a bit awkward, he looked away until he heard the dramatic gasp. “OK, OK. You’re smart. Sort of.” At her threat, he just smiled and stuck his tongue out at her. “Yeah, but you won’t ever go off me. You love me too much.” He did love teasing Kayla; it could be quite amusing at times.
When she said that they could go to her house, he smiled and nodded. It was good. The more time spent out of his house the better. “What sort of time shall I come round? I figure, given how much we will distract each other and how much there is to revise, it might take us most of the day.”
OOC: I was thinking, when we finish this thread up, we could have a thread for Alex going to Kayla's for revision and he decides that it's a good time to tell her what's going on with him. What do you think?
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Post by mikayla leigh james on Jun 20, 2011 16:18:33 GMT -5
"Oh my god that is genius!" Kayla screeched, disturbing half of the shop with her excitement. She lowered her voice to continue, an excited grin still on her face "He would love it, we might have to do it anonymously though.."
Okay so it was awkward, there was no denying it. Why had she blushed?! Anyway, she seemed to have distracted from that quite well. "Sort of!" she laughed "Maybe I don't love you actually, maybe I'm just in this friendship for the money".That didn't really make much sense but it was the best comeback she had. She pulled a shocked face at him "Didn't consider that did you babe?!" Kayla stuck her tongue out in retaliation.
"Yeah" she giggled. "We pretty much know we will get nothing done. Still, come round at 10ish?"
[ooc: that sounds good, I'm not sure where she lives though xD EDIT: guess we just post in 'residences'?] |
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Post by alex on Jun 21, 2011 4:29:02 GMT -5
At Kayla screeching rather loudly in response to his idea, Alex glanced around the shop and noticed that several other customers, as well as staff were staring at them. “I think Kayla, we need to keep a bit quieter, or we are going to be kicked out of here.” At her suggestion that it had to be done anonymously, he nodded. “He’ll probably still figure out it was us, even if we do it anonymously. I’ll have a look on Amazon and see how much a pack of pens will cost.”
As their banter continued, Alex again gasped dramatically as she suggested that she was just in this friendship for the money. “That may be, but my point still stands. You won’t ever go off me.” He copied her, sticking his tongue out in a rather childish fashion that made it seem like he was considerably younger than seventeen.
“Well, even if we get nothing done it will be fun. As fun as history revision can be I guess.” It was very true, they would probably just end up goofing around for the whole day and end up doing nothing constructive, but at least they would have a good time doing it.
OOC: Do you want to wrap the thread up now? |
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Post by mikayla leigh james on Jun 21, 2011 4:45:49 GMT -5
"Okay, fine Alex"Kayla sighed in mock exasperation, "I admit it, I love you to the end of the earth and will never go off you however much you mock me." She grinned, wishing she could spend longer chatting but knowing she had to get going.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to love you and leave you though.." she said sadly, pouting out in disappointment. "Definately look on amazon for some pens though, it would be amazing!" she continued, perking back up again.
She downed the rest of her coffee which had cooled down to a lukewarm and unpalatable level and gathered together her things. "10 o'clock, yeah?" she nodded, scooping her bag onto her shoulder and heading towards the door, turning one last time to blow him a kiss before grinning and heading home.
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