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 Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:10 pm
Gabriel collapsed onto the couch again once they reached Lucy's apartment. Marisol sat on his legs because they were taking up all of the space, and turned on the television. Gabriel looked at it without really seeing. In his time at prison he had realized that television was a waste of time. It was so much better to be outdoors, the sky above you, nothing blocking your way to anywhere. Boundless. He stared at the ceiling instead. He imagined Melissa, but he also imaged Nikki. Where were they now? He glanced at Marisol. Sometimes it felt like she was the only one who could accept him for everything he was and wasn't. But Nikki... she was... different. She didn't seem like Melissa at all. Why was he still thinking about her anyway? He could only vaguely remember running through traffic. He could never see himself as a hero. But very distinctly he could remember really looking at her for the first time. He could remember the way she had acted with Marisol. The way she had been so generous to him.
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:22 pm
Nikki set the bags back on the counter with a small grunt, surprised that she had managed to carry everything from the store to her house. Of course, it hadn't helped that she'd had an itch on her face the entire time. Smiling and shaking her head, she walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of kiwi-strawberry vitamin water, taking a small sip, before putting it away again. Leaning against the counter, Nikki allowed herself to rest for a moment and catch her breath, her thoughts drifting back to Gabriel and Marisol. Brushing a strand of hair out of her face, she got to work while still drifting in her thoughts.
Climbing the ladder with a bucket of paint and brush, Nikki began to spread the earthy orange color. She didn't really know why she had gotten so lost in her thoughts earlier in the day, why she had almost stepped into traffic. Nikki had tried to make sure that she never thought about that b*****d again; she was determined to make sure that he never effect her or her life ever again. As it was, Nikki hadn't seen the man in more than a 3 years and that scared her somewhat. After she had moved out, Nikki had ceased to keep track of where he was. With a shudder, Nikki quickly shifted her thoughts back to Gabriel, wondering if when he came over if he was going to bring the little girl, almost like a shield, or come by himself. It would be interesting to see.
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Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:23 am
Looking at the curve of his lips when he cleared his throat Rae quickly averted her eyes to look at his face scorning herself for her curiosity about him and even noticing how exceedingly handsome he was. Had she ever wanted better? The question made her think for a moment until it fully sunk in and she realized he meant the carnival bears and a grin spread across her face, "Well of course. The bears are adorable but they are the bottom of the carnival food chain for a reason and no one I knew could ever beat any of the games to get me something better." Though her mind told her she was walking into another set up, this was how she had been hurt before by trusting them and showing kindness only to have it thrown back at her but she smiled as she continued, "I wish they still had them but I haven't seen one in years. I was sevenish and there was this big grey storm dragon that had a tear drop necklace around it. It was beautiful but you had to get a perfect score in the game to win it because it was real gold and a lab sapphire. I don't even remember the game." Rae shook her head with a reminiscent smile before another thought crossed her mind.
The reason a lot of people didn't recognize her that she used to know was she went by her middle name until her parents died. That's when she had picked up using Rae. Looking out at the crowd she wondered how many of those people she knew and had made something of their lives. How many of them had always thought she would do better. More importantly in her mind though, what did Lantis think of her? It almost hurt to think he might see her as being just another moody ditz. Looking at the cars parked on the grass in makeshift spots when she looked to Lantis unsure of what came over her as her smile softened, "Come on. It'll be fun I promise!" she said with a hand on the door handle and an almost contagious excitement.
((Sorry N.A.T.A if it comes off a little incoherent. Really rushed today))
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 4:32 am
Serena's eyes were clouded... As if she were caught up in a daze that was not about to let her out of its grip. But, when she heard his voice... Saw that smile... She snapped to, realizing that yes, this man was, indeed, very real.
"Oh, sauce... Right," she said with a awkward laugh before she turned around and tended to the sauce, finishing it off quickly. She had bread in the oven from the other night... Garlic bread, luckily, and she pulled that out also. "And I think we're done," she said with a smile before looking at him.
"Hungry, much?" she asked with a nod of her head. She crossed the kitchen to the dining room where she placed the sauce and bread, going back to the kitchen to grab the noodles, along with a two plates and silverware. Once more, she returned to the dining room and placed them down, about to sit when she realized she had not grabbed drinks.
"Oh, right. What would you like to drink?" she asked him, reaching up to pull down two cups.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:52 am
"Starving." His smile lit up his face, his brown veil of hair hiding his eyes. He leaned against the counter, resting his weight on the balls of his hands. He watched her disappear and return, than disappear again. When she came back, at first Laurence didn't notice, his mind elsewhere. But he quickly snapped back to reality.
"Just water. Thanks," he smiled, standing up. He put his hand on his chin, looking Serena up and down. Eventually, he stopped and smiled. "Serena, you wouldn't mind coming down to work tomorrow, do you," he asked, not revealing his job yet. Serena's looks had given the man inspiration for...a new outfit.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:08 pm
[Not sure what to do now! >_>;;]
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:51 pm
((You could always make him come over to her house after Merisol fell asleep or something. It seems like out characters are moving the slowest in the relationship thing, lol!! Or I could make her go out on the beach and you could make him be there "concoincidently" lol.))
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:10 am
[[Okay, I have an idea~]]
Gabriel woke up after dozing off as Lucy came in the door, taking her long blonde hair out of its ponytail. It wasn't too late in the afternoon yet. "Hey, you got off early," he said with a sleepy smile.
Lucy smiled. "Yeah, why don't you take a break Gabriel? You look like you've had a busy day."
He laughed almost humorlessly. "You have no idea. I think I'll head out for a walk." She knew well enough by now that being inside too long made him feel confined, and nodded toward the door. "Thanks. I'll be back for dinner." In a few minutes he was out of the aparment and heading down to the beach. He ended up at the edge of the dock, the toes of his sandals barely hanging over the side, looking at the ocean. It seemed to be the only thing that was constant. The water stretched out forever. If he just kept swimming, eventually the shore would disappear. The memories of love, betrayal, and being caged, would all disappear along with it. The only thing that held him back was the love for his new-found family.
He finally sat down, realizing he could never swim out there with the knowledge that he was going to drown. Gabriel let out a sigh and flopped on his back, shielding his eyes from the sun with a hand. Something slipped out of his pocket, and was almost carried away by the wind before he caught it. A napkin, carefully folded up. That was right, Nikki had left him her phone number and address. Suddenly his heart was pounding more violently than it had when he was contemplating suicide. He unfolded it, eyes sweeping the numbers and the street name.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:03 pm
By this point Nikki was covered in paint; some was smeared on her cheek and nose, and the front of her shirt was now completely orange. She hadn't been paying attention at one poin and had leaned forward against a wet wall of paint, staining her shirt. Oh well, she had always wanted a two-toned peice of clothing. She didn't noticed the phone ring as the radio blared throughout the house and out the windows, blasting the song Moondance by Christ Botti. It was one of her favorite songs, though she had never really experienced the emotion herself. Sighing, Nikki looked out the kitchen window to the beach on that side, wondering if maybe Gabriel had thrown her information away.
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:11 am
She didn’t really give him a choice, and just hearing Rae say it was going to be fun, Lantis was almost sure it would be. Her smile told him so. “W, Wait up!” He stammered trying to lock his car, she looked ready to take off with out him! Rae had of course waited till he was beside her again before they started towards the carnival. Laughter and screams (from the rides) reached their ears and the palpable smell of popcorn, cotton candy and other fair foods could be caught on the breeze. The atmosphere was incredible, and along with Rae, Lantis could not help but be affected. He smiled down at Rae. “So what should we do first? Perhaps you’d like it if I showed you that there are other wonderful things to win than just bears? I don’t know about a necklace, but I wouldn’t say my skills are that bad.” Lantis said trying to talk himself up as they walked to the booth at the entrance of the fair. With out a word to Rae, Lantis spoke to the ticket master and paid for a fair pass for two then quickly handed him the money. He may not go on many dates, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to let Rae pay! It just wouldn’t be right. She was trying to show him a good time, this was the least he could do for her. As they walked in and filtered in with the crowds of people, Lantis felt something weigh heavy upon his heart and it caused his brows to furrow as what ever it was, was squeezing his heart. Then it began to curl around his mind. With out thinking, his hand reached over and took a hold of Rae’s. His eyes swept the area as if looking for impending danger or indicators of ‘them’. People moving left and right…that’s how it always was, ‘they’ could blend in perfectly…’They’ could walk right up and blow them up….But Lantis would not let them, not before and not now. Why not now? He looked back to Rae and it seemed the very sight of her dispelled that mysterious delusion he’d been experiencing. When Lantis looked up again, the danger was no where to be found, everyone, and everything was exactly as they were suppose to be. Was the danger even there to begin with? Lantis felt as if he were experiencing some sort of vertigo, as if there were two parts of himself and they were being stretched in two different directions. One to the past and the other to the present. He sighed wishing it all to stop for just a little while. And it was then he realized he was holding Rae’s hand. “Ah, better hold onto you or you might leave me behind!” Lantis laughed trying to play it off as if he meant to do it. But there was another reason he had held onto Rae. Some part of him felt it, another part knew what it was. Could it be? Rae was alike an anti drug? But his darkness, his past, he felt it was much too deep, too powerful…And when he looked to her (as he did now) He could see it in her eyes, in her face. It spoke too clearly. Even if she didn’t say it, he could read it. They were like warning signs. ‘Careful: Fragile heart’ It mildly disturbed Lantis that he hadn’t been with Rae very long, and already he was having these hopes….
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:57 pm
The next thing Gabriel knew, he was running across the park area and down the streets, looking for Nikki's address. It was beyond him why he was doing this. He paused at the corner, hearing the song Moondance through open windows, and once more he checked the address on the crinkled napkin. Nikki's house was the one blasting the classic. He wanted nothing more than to run back to his apartment, but his feet went forward with a mind of their own, and he was in front of her door. It was a strange feeling, knowing she was right there. All he had to do was knock. He hesistated, then raised his fist to knock lightly on the door, recoiling quickly once he had done so, like a kid who has done something against the rules. Of course, the knock was too soft for her to hear. Once more he raised his hand and dealt the door three sharp raps. Then he was suddenly scared. Wouldn't she wonder what he was doing here? Hell, he didn't know what he was doing here. She'd probably think he was psychotic or something. Then again, maybe he was. All he knew was that he wanted out. He started down the front path and back toward the sidewalk, but his feet were like lead, his nerves getting the better of him.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:37 pm
The water was running in the sink as she tried to scrub the paint off her fingers and forarms, where she hadn't been careful. Nikki sighed and blew the bangs out of her face, slightly frustrated. She was bored and hungry and had nothing else to do besides work. Cutting the water off, Nikki grabbed the nearest rag and dried her hands off, unsurprised that she hadn't managed to get it all. Shrugging, she was just about to pick up her water when the slight thud of knocking on her door caught her attention. Perking up, Nikki quickly shut the radio off and walked to the front screen door. Seeing no one, she opened it and stepped outside, disappointment filling her unti she caught sight of him in the dark. A feeling that she hadn't felt in a very long time sprang through her and Nikki felt her heart speed up. Blushing ever so slightly, she stepped further onto the porch and leaned agaist the white railings that lined the edges. "Gabriel?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:15 pm
Rae laughed playfully when he called for her to wait up and soon they were walking side by side toward the carnival and she was reaching for her money when Lantis paid. Looking around in awe it was better than she remembered as a child then again since she had met Lantis life seemed a bit more manageable and the world had a little more color. All the people in brightly colored clothes and the smell of fresh foods and she didn't even realize how intoxicated she had become with the world until someone took her hand and she intertwined her fingers with his. Looking over it was a pleasant surprise to see Lantis still standing next to her and to her complete amazement he didn't look bored with her yet. His voice quelled the fears that threatened her broken heart and if only for a second it seemed things were falling into place and she laughed when he spoke about her leaving him behind, "I can't do that. Then who is going to win me some giant plushie!" she said with happiness in her voice. Looking up to him with a smile on her face she wondered what secrets were hidden behind his eyes. What darkness held him within its grasp refusing to let him go. As he looked at her, Rae's cheeks tinted a slight pink before her eyes lit up, she had promised him a good time and she meant it who was she to assume he would ever want to see her again after this day was over but she was going to make it one to remember. Moving among the large groups of colorful people in masks and costumes she kept hold of Lantis to be sure she didn't actually lose him as they moved into the thickest part of the crowd. This carnival had actually been big enough to draw in the city dwellers and the farther in it was near packed. First things first she led them to a stall that held a colorful array of masques quickly choosing two she didn't let go of his hand until she had two almost identical masks in hand and she quickly went to slip the blue and silver one on Lantis before donning her own red and silver one before taking his hand again and heading off toward the house or mirrors/ maze not leaving much choice with her excitement as she said to him over the noise with a smile before taking off, "There. Now if we get separated I will always be able to tell its you again and not some random impostor." Rae remembered the mazes as always being fun. Though they weren't grown there large hedges almost 3 feet thick were set up in the size of half a football field and there was supposedly a special prize to anyone who could find there way to the middle. And of course for the squeamish there were several posts along the ways and dead ends that allowed people to call for rescue should they get scared or tired. Slipping through the people she said to Lantis, "I've always wondered what was in the middle. I've never personally made it there and there are supposed to be people hiding to scare you and clues and riddles. My old man told me when I was little that there is a rose garden in the middle with a wishing well and whatever you wish will come true." Her tone was excited at the thought of it all as if it was some magical world and even as they approached the maze roses and other exotic plants could be seen growing and weaving through the shrubbery and cobble stone path that had been laid just for this even.
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Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 3:46 pm
Gabriel turned as he heard a voice say his name. "Nikki, hi," he said awkwardly. It was too late to head back home now, so he headed back up to the house. As he got closer he noticed the paint smeared on her shirt and speckled in haphazard patterns on her forearms and hands. The sight made him relax slighly. "Been busy?" he asked with a faint smile, avoiding the subject of why he was there. Perhaps he should have been acting more friendly, but he didn't want to freak her out or anything. Besides, he hadn't talked to someone his age in over three years, and now here he was on Nikki's doorstep.
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Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:07 pm
Nikki smiled as he came forward again, noticing the tenseness in his shoulder and the hesitation in his eyes. She wasn't sure why but Nikki knew that if he wanted to talk about it he would, so she pushed that thought away for further pursual. Leaning forward some more, she grabbed his hand and pulled him forward into the small cottage, not really giving him much of a choice in the matter. "Yeah, I managed to paint the entire kitchen and half the living room. Of course, now I'm covered in paint." Nikki laughed, relaxed and more than happy that he had decided to come.
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