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 Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:57 pm
 -Clack, clack, clack, clank. The clicks and tinks of her bracelets rattled, adding harmony to the clack of her shoes as Aurora made her way down the sidewalk. Her first day of actual classwork had come and gone, and now she was headed towards the bookstore, sachel slung over her shoulder, school uniform gleaming bright in the sunlight.
Other girls might change before going into town.. actually other girls wouldn't even be on this mission, to go buy test booklets a whole month before she'd actually ever need them, but Miss Aurora just did not have time for things like changing. There were SO many things to do each and everyday. It wasn't like her uniform was horrible or anything either. Pretty comfy and fairly cute, she quite liked the way the light colors stood out so boldly against her tanned skin.
Her steps were quick and deliberate, but her eyes wandered the unfamilar area pleasantly. Just because she didn't 'relax' like the typical student, that didn't mean she missed out on the simple pleasures of life completely. Admiring the full, large trees gently her mind drifted back home to Alaska. What she used to call a tree there.. surely it'd be a dwarf to the things that closer to the equator.-
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:44 am
Hot dogs were the perfect snack to have on the way home from school, especially on a day like today. School had just gotten out for the day, there had been very little homework assigned, and best of all - the sun was shining! On his way home from classes, he found himself making his regular stop to the hot dog stand near the bookstore. How could he pass it up? The delicious aroma of the franks always drew him in, and besides - he could use something to eat.
"Long day at school, Skip," asked Joe, the hot dog vendor.
In reply, the baseball player merely shrugged, flashed a small smirk, and put on his signature sunglasses as he waited for his usual order to be prepared; a regular dog with ketchup, mustard and relish. This conversation was customary whenever he stopped at the stand. Joe would ask him how he was doing, he would shrug and wait patiently for his food, only to reply after he had received it. The hot dog vendor was a great guy, fun to talk with - especially about baseball - but he wasn't going to throw off the routine of things.
Holding out the hot dog in front of him, the vendor smiled back. "Here ya are, kid."
"Thanks Joe," Skip said as he handed over the dollar twenty-five it cost for the dog. Food in hand, he then plopped down on his favorite spot on the curb next to the stand and glanced backward. "You know how it is." And with that, Skip began to eat, happily munching on his much deserved hot dog while thinking of the baseball practice that lied ahead of him later on that evening.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:04 am
-Eyes on the trees eyeing the different shapes of leaves, she drew nearer and nearer to the bookstore, recalling vaguely from her first introduction to the town which building it was. The scent of food touched her, familar.. but unfamilar enough to cause her sight to turn once more to the vendor, not noticing the boy who'd made himself comfortable in the path of her speed walk.
Ahhh! Hot dogs! She'd had those before, but she hadn't ever seen someone who sold them from the streets. Totally like they did in some of those movies, how cool!
Sheer luck saved him from being trampled, Aurora stopped momentarily to gaze at the cart, pulling back suddenly when she realized she was almost close enough to step on him, a startled and embarssed laugh filling the air.- "Oh my gosh, I'm SO sorry!!"
"I was so busy looking at everything, I wasn't even looking where I was going." -Hugging her sachel to her stomach, she leaned some, acting just as sorry as if she HAD actually run him over. It wasn't the best of ideas to be sitting on the sidewalk, but it was just as much her fault for not looking!-
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:25 am
"I wasn't even looking where I was going."
Skip heard these words just as he was finishing his snack. Now that he had finished, the boy blinked and turned to look at who had almost run into him. Although his eyes were hidden behind his dark sunglasses, they widened in surprise. It was a girl about his age, and not just any girl. She was a girl from Crystal Academy, the local all-girl's school within the city.
Great! Just his luck! Crystal Academy girls hated Meadowview kids!
"It's no problem," Skip replied calmly as he got up from his spot on the curb. A hand ran through his red and blue streaked hair. This was something he often did when he was embarrassed. "Actually," he went on to say, "it was my fault. I shouldn't have been sitting on the curb. This sidewalk gets rather busy in the afternoons, after all. I'd just be taking up space." A chuckle escaped him after this, and to be polite he extended out a hand to her.
"Nice to meet you, by the way. The name's Skip. Skip Parker."
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:26 am
-Luckily for Skip, Aurora was not the sort to begrudge merely by school. Merely by sex... maybe. But proper attitude and manners were far more important in her eyes, and so far, he was passing that with flying colors.
Gazing down at him a little more intently, taking in his features, she admired his multi toned hair lightly, pausing at the glasses that obscured his eyes, before stopping finally at the extended hand. Accepting his hand, she gave it a delicate shake, smiling.- "Don't worry about it, no harm done after all!"
"I'm Aurora Namid."
"I've never eaten a hot dog from a cart before" -She stated matter of factly, fiddling with the latch on her bag.- "Are they good that way?" -Probably not the best question to ask so closely to the stand, but she was curious and often found her mouth would continue moving when her feet could not.-
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:50 am
Aurora Namid. A pretty name for a pretty girl. Mentally, Skip made a note in the back of his mind to remember it. If there was anything that girl's hated more than the outrightly disgusting habits of guys, it was having their name forgotten. And no matter what, Skip was going to do his best to not screw anything up. Losing friends because of ignorance was never fun.
"Nice to meet you, Aurora."
His sunglasses came off after the introductions were made. Grasping the corner of them with a hand, he slid them up casually to rest on top of his head. This was his usual spot for them when he wasn't able to wear them, which was mostly in school. Skip beamed when he was able to see her fully without the dimness of his sunglasses to obscure his vision. She was pretty, though he wouldn't go saying that outright. No, sir. Better to play it cool - not that he was trying to play anything; he was just being himself.
The fact that she had never had a hot dog from a cart wasn't surprising. Someone probably made them at home for her, perhaps at a cookout or a barbeque. Before he answered Aurora's question, Skip turned and glanced toward Joe with a smile. "Aside from having them at baseball games, this is the best way to have them," he explained to her.
After that, Skip dipped his hand into his pocket and looked up at the vendor. His hand produced a wallet a moment later, and Joe gave a knowing nod. He knew the drill just as well as Skip did. "Two please, Joe. My regular, and whatever Aurora would like on hers. I'd also like two drinks, if you please." His red eyes seemed to sparkle as he turned back around to face Aurora. "This is my treat, alright," he said softly as he took out the proper payment for Joe. Hopefully, she wouldn't object to him buying her something to eat. He was just trying to be courteous, after all. Then again...it was always hard with girls to tell what they liked and what they didn't.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:26 am
-She smiled simply at his words, watching carefully as the glasses lifted and settled upon his head like a perfect accessory. Really it was wonderful. If she herself ever decided to do her hair in a less fancy manner, she too might try such a style, it looked just as subdued but none the less lovely as the simple bracelets that jangled from her rest most days.-
"I've also not been to a baseball game." -She laughed, looking somewhere between amused and embarrased. So many things she really needed to do to to expand her horizons outside of the school.- "I have however seen my brothers play it from time to time, but my school was so small in Alaska and everyone so busy, I don't think they even had a team. Hmm... I wonder if Crystal Academy has one?" -She doubted it. Softball maybe.. but even that was a maybe."
-She looked surprised when the kind gesture was made, but not at all unpleased. Truely.. THIS was the way young boys should act! Not fussing and fighting and doing horribly wreckless or troublesome things. Aurora was intrigued to say the least.-
"How very very kind of you, especially after I almost ran you over." -She teased lightly, her smile however genuine.- "I'll have to return the favor someday."
-Pondering for a moment, she pointed to the ketchup and then mustard as she made her choice of dressings, before turning back to Skip, trying to make conversation that wouldn't make her seem.. quite so lacking in experience.- "Were you headed someplace then Skip? Or do you make it a hobby of feeding strangers?" -It was a good trait, though a bit expensive for a Meadowview student. Her smile was playful however, making it obvious her question was one of jest.-
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:42 am
"I was just heading home, actually," Skip admitted with a sheepish laugh. "On my way back from school, I make it a point to stop here, though. Talking with Joe is always fun, even if I can't always buy a hot dog." Joe was just finishing up as he said this, and Skip reached out to take them both from the vendor. Before he continued on, he handed the Crystal Academy student hers and grabbed their drinks.
Sitting on the curb wouldn't do now. The Crystal Academy uniforms were light colors, and would probably get dirty if Aurora sat on the street; they couldn't have that. So, to make it easier and a bit more comfortable, Skip moved to one of the outside cafe tables the local bookstore had set out. Yes; this would do nicely! After setting down the food and drinks, he then moved and pulled a chair out for her to sit in. Always be polite - that's what his father told him.
"As for feeding strangers, my Gran Gran likes to visit the local soup kitchen every so often. I go with her sometimes." A smile tugged at his lips as he thought about his grandma. She was always so kind and courteous to others, definitely a person he could look up to. Skip paused after telling Aurora this. Not wanting to keep the conversation focused solely on him, he then asked a question of his own.
"What about you, Aurora? Were you on your way somewhere, or do you make it a hobby of taking food from strangers?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:22 am
-Home... that must have been nice. Her family was one of the few things she really missed while here at the academy. Having a home to return to after school was such a wonderful thing. A kitchen full of tools and supplies, rooms and rooms of your favorite things, and of course the life and affection that a home filled with family exuded. She was just a little jealous of this Skip, oh so worldly and with everything there for him. Not the bad kind of jealous though, really he seemed like an amazing guy.
His admission brought peals of laughter from her, sudden and bright, waving her empty hand in a beg for forgiveness, her smile sheepish when finally she could talk again.- "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You just seem so much like a prince out of a book."
"The boys I'm used to are so well.. misbehaved" -It was obviously a compliment, though.. not really the greatest way to say it. Settling herself into her seat, she slid her drink from place to place before settling on a spot, peeking up at him lightly now that she was throughly embarassed.- "I was coming to the bookstore to buy some test booklets. And no. I tend to cook my own food. But you only live once. Food from strangers might become a thrilling new hobby of mine."
-Taking a curious but delicate bite of said food, she nodded in soft approval as she chewed. It was certainly no filet mingon but there was something utterly down to earth and pleasant about the hot dog, fresh from the cart. It was warm, the flavor unique and pleasant, and the company and surroundings, she imagined THAT was what made up the specialness that Skip had mentioned before. And it certainly was that.-
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:22 am
Him? A prince? Oh, if only his mother could hear Aurora say that. She would be doubled-over on the floor with laughter. Those who knew him well knew that Skip didn't always act like this. Not at all. In fact, he got into his fair share of trouble every now-and-then, but that's what kept life interesting. At least...that was his way of thinking about it. Aurora's compliment, nevertheless, was gracious and sincere, and he appreciated that.
The boy could feel his face get slightly warm after his female companion had complimented him. It wasn't often that Skip blushed, but when he did, he didn't make any attempt to hide it. If you blushed, you blushed; there was nothing wrong with that. "Thank you but...I have my moments, you know, just like everyone else." His gaze drifted down to his hot dog as he said this, his voice becoming quiet. "I'm not always like this, unfortunately."
Oh, snap! Continuing the conversation on this path would only make things melancholy. Change of topic, stat! It was then that Skip remembered what she had told him about the bookstore. Test booklets! She was there to buy test booklets.
Immediately, he admired her determination. This early in the school year, and already she was going to buy the proper study materials. Good grades...what he would kill to get those. Not that he didn't study - he worked very hard. It was just that school didn't come as easy to him as it did to the other kids. If he wanted decent grades, he had to work for them. Aurora, too, it seemed, worked to keep her marks eye. He was just envious that her schoolwork was such a high priority to her. "I bet you study hard." Why couldn't he be like that? School, and not baseball, should be his number one focus!
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:42 pm
-She nodded as his assertion, as she took another bite of her hot dog, not begrudging him for the moment because of it. It was true.. if she caught him doing something bad she's be the first to scold him, but for now that was all hypothetical.- "I'm sure everyone has an occassion or two they aren't proud of."
"I do in fact." -She stated proudly as he spoke, taking his words kindly as they didn't seem to the usual teasing or conitation that came with that statement.- "I get mostly A's and B's, but I study like.. every day pretty much. Not always a whole lot, but glancing at your notes and books for an hour here or thirty minutes there really helps." -She didn't mention the couple of C's now and again. But they were rare really, subjects that alluded her. What Aurora lacked in sheer intellegence she often made up for in repetition and study. But then.. when you could never set still it gave you alot of time to do other things.-
"I'm a pretty good multi tasker though so alot of times I'll study while I'm eating or cooking or whatever, so that helps things not get boring."
-Sipping at her drink lightly, she inquired curiously.- "Is your home very far from here?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:22 pm
He listened intently to the things that she said, casually taking bites of his hot dog until it was gone. Aurora was a very interesting girl and not to mention very nice. This fact surprised him, to be perfectly honest, as he always thought that girls from Crystal Academy hated the students from Meadowview. Oh, well. Guess rumors weren't always true. What had started out as a walk home had turned into an encounter with a brand new friend. What more could Skip have asked for?
The question about his home snapped him back into reality. "No," he said, leaning in his chair and motioning with his head off into the distance behind her. "My apartment building is actually not too far from here. It's pretty convenient, actually, since it doesn't take me a whole lot of time to get to school."
Home. He loved it there. His family was such a ragtag group of individuals that every day there was different and as interesting as the last. His grandparents living there made it that way, Skip figured. If they hadn't, the Parker household would be rather boring. And then there was always Babe, of course. Babe could brighten up anyone's day.
It was thinking of his beloved dog that a thought popped into his mind. The park! He often took his dog to play fetch in the park, to stretch his legs and give him some exercise. Perhaps Aurora would like to go with him sometime as a change of pace?
"I have a question for you," Skip said, leaning back in and sitting back against his chair. He smiled, then chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head in sudden shyness. What was with him? It's just a question. Ask it, Skip, you blubbering fool. "On the weekends, I like to take my dog to go play in the park. Perhaps you'd like to join me? If you don't want to, or if you're afraid of dogs, I perfectly understand, but I just thought to ask. It could be fun, you know, and it'd be a nice change of pace."
Mentally, he was holding his breath. It wasn't often he asked questions like this, so the thought of rejection was horrifying. He had heard one too many stories about guys being turned down. All Skip could hope was, when all of this was over, that he wouldn't be joining their ranks.
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:53 am
-She nodded, imagining said apartment building in a her head, probably FAR different then it actually looked, but whatever.- "That sounds nice." -She admitted aloud, being reminded of the day not long ago when the rain had poured and poured, and she'd been thankful the buildings of the Academy were all so close to each other.
Her brows lifted quizically as the conversation changed, taking a moment to sip at her drink, her eyes watching him in a silent signal to go on. Aurora couldn't help but smile a little as the signs of embarassment touched him, feeling far less retarded then she had about the strange feelings of nervousness that'd been ebbing on her.-
"Ohhh, you have a dog!" -Her voice perked, typical girl. Lover of animals, atleast to the extent of acknowledging their fluffy adorableness. She'd not really had a whole ton of pets to tell the truth. The dogs at home had been herding dogs, so they stayed outside mostly, and worked alongside her brothers and dad. As to Skip's question...
What kind of stuff did she have planned for this weekend? She often filled her schedule for the whole week within the first day or two. But truth be told.. how much of that was stuff she added JUST to be doing something? Surely she'd have the time SOME weekend to explore the town, to learn more from her worldly new friend, and play with his dog. Nodding Aurora placed the last bite of hotdog into her mouth, digging through the sachel until she found the small book she was looking for, flipping it open to the current week. When finally she was done chewing, she smiled once more oblivious to the words about to come out of her mouth.-
"I'd love to go sometime. Do you have a certain time you go usually.. or just whenever you feel like it? We can set a date if you like."
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:01 pm
The boy's head bobbed up and down at the mention of setting a date. Making plans was always a good thing. Not only did it make things easier to remember, but it gave one something to look forward to as well. Having Aurora join him at the park with Babe would just make the outing that much better. "It'd probably be best to set up something. That way we will have definite plans set up, you know?"
Just as he was talking, Skip's eyes fell down to the clock on his cell phone. It was getting late. Normally, he was home rather early after school ended, so his mother and grandmother were probably worrying where he was. As much as he wanted to stay and continuing chatting, it would probably best to go. So, without hesitation, the boy stood up and moved to help Aurora out of her seat.
"I'm going on Sunday to the park if you'd like to join me. That's usually the day I always go. I play with my dog in the park from about two to four, if you'd like to meet me there. Or, if you like, we could come and pick you up. I wouldn't mind either way, so I'll let you decide." Content and happy with finding a new-found friend, Skip then leaned in to say softly to her, "No matter what, though, it's going to be fun. I can tell you that right now."
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:20 pm
-She nodded softly as he stood, taking note of his eyes on the clock, and the silent meaning behind his actions. This had been fun and all but it was probably getting late, she really needed to get those booklets.-
"I'll go ahead and meet you two there Sunday." -Standing up, Aurora found her face turning pink again as he leaned in, his voice a whisper, that sent a bizzare flutter through her. She turned away with a laugh, pulling her sachel to her chest, giving a half bow to try and make her seem a little less silly for jerking away.- "I'm sure it will be."
"See you later Skip. Thanks again for the treat."
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