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 Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2024 8:33 pm
Takes place mid-October 2024 Riker hated group projects. It was such a hassle to meet up with someone else to discuss something that they would all just be better off doing on their own. He supposed the teachers wanted them to make friends or whatever, but Riker didn’t want to make friends. He just wanted to be left alone. So he could wallow in self-pity and try to give Énna a wide berth while he figured things out.
He knew the guy he was supposed to be partnered with. Sort of. He’d seen him before. Knew he used to be Julian’s roommate at Hillworth. Apparently making the jump from Hillworth to Azure was becoming a frequent occurrence. Not that Luke knew that he was a Knight. Not everyone was super eager to reveal their identities.
That just meant Riker was even more stressed out about this stupid project. Especially since he was distracted with thoughts of what he could have done differently with Énna. Oh, maybe not bully him in the first place. That probably would have done it.
“I can write it if you just bring me the sources,” Riker shrugged in greeting when Luke arrived at the library and found where he’d claimed a table. It wasn’t like Riker had anything better to do that day, and he certainly wasn’t going home.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:05 pm
Luke gave a little wave and shook his head. “I mean, if that’s how you want to do it, that’s fine, but I’m excited to work with you. You’re Julian’s friend Riker, right?” He had been thrilled when he was paired up with Riker. If it wasn’t the right Riker, well. That was a different story, but…he was pretty sure that this was the same one.
“I’m Luke, Julian and I used to be roommates last year, but now we’re both going here.”
His voice was friendly, as it always was, and he gave a little grin. “I really don’t mind working on things together. If you wanted to come to my place we could work on it there, my mom’s always cool with friends over, and she’s doubly cool when it’s due to homework things. I have a printer, at any rate, so that wouldn’t be an issue…”
Luke sat down in the chair and stretched slightly.
At least being home he could really stretch out. That was the issue with the library…sprawling wasn’t…
Well, it wasn’t looked upon fondly unless it was a public library and you were a child.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:13 pm
Riker stared at Luke, eyebrows furrowed with confused suspicion. He was trying to decide if Luke was pulling his leg or if he was just nervous or what.
“Yeah, I know you’re Luke. The teacher calls our names every morning,” he reminded and then glanced around to see if maybe someone had a camera and was trying to jump out and say they were pranking him. He was already in a cranky mood, and something about this guy’s chattery ray of sunshine was giving Maisie way too much.
Overly friendly types weighed down on him like bricks tied to his ankles in a deep pool. Maybe that was a little excessive. Maybe he was hangry.
Riker scoffed at the bringing friends over.
“This is just a class project,” he shrugged. He could feel the tension in his chest rising. He almost wished Julian was there. Or Cassidy. Or Elliot.
At least they’d be more likely to talk to Luke without saying something they might regret. He already lamented the thought of his bad attitude getting back to Julian.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:29 pm
Oh. Duh. Luke gave a little laugh and shrugged. “True…but you and I haven’t really ever spoken so…I wanted to introduce myself as more than just the name called out by the teacher, I guess.”
Reaching into his bag he pulled out a sleeve of white cheddar rice cakes and carefully opened the top of the sleeve, pulling out a small pile of napkins too. “Want one? I know eating isn’t like…super welcomed in the library, they’re normally okay if we’re not by the computers, and I’m super hungry. It’s better to study or talk over snacks.”
Food was always his go to. It brought people together. If you had food, people were always more likely to talk to you or want to talk to you or…
Well.
Food was a crutch, and he wasn’t above using it.
“It’s a class project, yeah but…I don’t want to shirk on any of the work…we’re supposed to do it together and I’m just letting you know I’m not going to flake on you, I guess.” He was quiet for a minute and then tilted his head. “Do you like writing? Is that why you’d rather do that than the research?”
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:31 pm
Once again, Riker stared, his expression that of disapproval as Luke pulled out food in the library. As casually as possible, Riker reached out to gently tug the books and notebook closer to him, inching back his chair as if trying to put some obvious distance between himself and Luke’s snack.
Maybe it was a Hillworth thing. Or maybe it was a spoiled rich boy thing, he wouldn’t know. For Luke to know they were normally okay with food being out except for by the computers…. How often had he pulled out food while he was there? Riker was pretty sure there were signs that said no food or drink except water, but he couldn’t bet his life on it.
“No thanks,” he muttered, awkwardly glancing around as if expecting a librarian to swoop in and scold them for eating. Or making too much noise since Luke’s snack wasn’t exactly subtle in terms of crunch.
He wasn’t itching at least.
But Luke’s questions were confusing. He didn’t understand how he came to that conclusion, but could recognize that the guy was probably just trying to make small talk. Annoying.
“Yeah, sure,” he shrugged, as if he could magically write a research paper without doing any research.
“Look. I’m glad you’re friends with Julian and all, but we don’t have to do, like, the whole friendly thing. I just want to get this project done so I can go back to getting ready for the cross country meet tomorrow,” he finally said, figuring some discouragement would at least get Luke to just go find him what he asked for and not get them in trouble.
Once upon a time, he wouldn’t have cared. He would have welcomed trouble and chaos. But things were different now. And his heart still hurt knowing he’d caused others pain and suffering, no matter how little.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:32 pm
Luke waited for a moment and then carefully put the snacks away. “The project isn’t due until Thursday, if you wanted to go and get ready for your meet, that’s fine.”
He’s different than most people think. He’s been very kind to me.
Julian’s words echoed in his head and as Luke stowed the snacks in his bag, he gave another smile. “I’m hoping that you and I can end up friends too, one day. Julian’s important to me, and you’re extremely important to him, so…I’m not going to just stop the whole friendly thing…I enjoy making friends…I enjoy being friendly. That’s who I am….and I don’t give up easily. But, I’m happy to do some research on my own if you want to go and train, Julian said you were doing track, and you play baseball? That’s neat.”
Drawing in a breath, he looked up at Riker. “I’m good with researching alone today, seriously, it’s not a big deal! I know sports are important, and I hope you have a good meet!”
…He never had understood why sports things were called meets when it was swimming and track and things like that…but. They weren’t games so…why not races? Ah well.
“For today, do you want to just go over quick the direction you want me to research? Then maybe you could come over on Sunday to my place and we can work further?”
He could be flexible. He was flexible.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:36 pm
“What, so you don’t want to shirk on any of the work, say how we’re supposed to do it together and that you’re not going to flake on me, but you’re also okay with me leaving so you can to it all yourself? What’s your deal? Are you trying to sabotage me? Why the ******** would we set up a time to meet now if I was going to do something else?” he sputtered in disbelief, voice low enough to still be respectful in the library, but obviously agitated.
He felt on edge. Riled up. He didn’t know what was up with this guy. Luke was hot and then cold. He pulled out snacks saying how hungry he was, but then immediately put them away. Said he wanted to help with the work, but then was eager to send Riker off.
Riker didn’t like feeling like he was being dismissed. And he sure as hell hoped Luke didn’t do stuff like this to Julian, who wouldn’t be able to do anything other than what he was told.
“I said I need the source material. It’s going to be a pain in the a** trying to look up what books we might need and then physically find them. I’ve already read through these,” he gestured to the ones on the table. It wasn’t as though he had anything else to do after school when he wasn’t running or playing baseball.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:49 pm
Luke closed his eyes for a moment, trying to settle himself and then finally just sighed. “I’m sorry. No, I’m not trying to sabotage you. I’m just. Trying to give you what you’re saying that you want.” He ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. “Julian said sports were important to you, and you brought it up, so I was just trying to offer options for you so that you’re more comfortable. Or so that you can get your practice in. There’s no sense in us being here if it’s going to cause you grief tomorrow. We have time for this, and I don’t do any sports nor do I have honestly anything pressing at all to do after school. It’s not like there’s an orchestra here.” At least none that he had found.
For a moment, his voice was bitter. He missed that about Hillworth. He missed playing all the time. Maybe there was some Destiny City youth orchestra he could join. Maybe he should look into that. He was in the library after all.
Finally, Luke just looked at the small pile of books and nodded. “You’ve done a lot already. Thank you. I want us to do well on this…I just. Don’t want you to be stressed about your other things too. I’ll go just…look for sources if you want me to.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:56 pm
The fast shift in mood and demeanor was unsettling. From someone to be overly friendly and cheerful and then change so quickly to being almost sulky and submissive…
Maybe he was just that difficult to be around.
Riker hated group projects. He didn’t want to make friends. And he certainly didn’t want people to get to know him. What good would that do, anyway?
“The meet is tomorrow. I don’t want to be working on this then, so I want to finish as much as I can now,” Riker clarified after a moment, preceded by a heavy sigh.
“Don’t try to brush me off and be a martyr just because you think you’ve got less to do,” he grumbled, and pushed his books towards Luke. “Try to find some interesting passages and mark them with sticky notes. I hate writing the whole stupid lines for the sources, so if you want to do that, these are the books I’ve picked through already.”
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 1:58 pm
Luke was quiet for a few moments, and then took hold of one of the books, scanning the contents and beginning to look through it, rummaging in his bag after a second and pulling out some sticky notes, ones that marked passages. It was something that he had needed for close reading, and it was going to be useful for this.
As he researched, he was still quiet, but again, reached down and drew out a small package of fruit snacks, opening them and beginning to eat. These were quieter and honestly, the idea of sweets was nice.
When he had a few left, he looked up and at Riker, holding the pouch out.
“What time is your meet tomorrow?” It would be something to do, and maybe he’d have a good time there. Maybe he and Julian could go and cheer Riker on together.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:00 pm
Riker suddenly tensed at the question. He’d been relieved that Luke was working on their research, so he hadn’t even noticed that he was eating again. He glanced at the package being held out to him, and immediately pushed his chair back to put some distance between them.
“Please don’t,” he sputtered weakly, still eyeing the fruit snacks for a moment before turning his attention back to Luke with a shake of his head to decline the offer. His brows had furrowed with distress, and he looked like he was struggling to figure out what to say.
“It’s just not a good idea.”
Luke had asked what time the meet was, but Riker thought he was fair in assuming the reason why he asked was because he was considering going. The less people there, the better. Especially people there because of him.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:01 pm
Luke blinked, his eyes flickering to the fruit snacks, brain sticking on that aspect of what was going on.
Riker saw that fruit snacks, and was uncomfortable with them. Did he not like fruit snacks? Was he really so worried about eating in the library.
Slowly, Luke lowered his hand and nodded slowly. “If it’s germs or something you’re worried about, I think I have an extra, unopened pack in my bag. Would you rather have that?”
His voice was still soft and he blinked again, face creasing in some confusion, when finally something dawned on him and he frowned slightly. “Unless, you’re saying it’s not a good idea for us to come cheer you on at your meet?”
That couldn't be it though…it was an achievement. Why wouldn't someone want friends there to cheer them on?
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:05 pm
“It’s not a good idea to come to the meet,” he snapped, although his voice was still low enough to not warrant anyone harassing them to keep their voices down. He was already frustrated about it and flustered that he had to clarify, although he knew he hadn’t exactly been very clear to start with.
“And I really don’t want to eat anything, thanks.” He could only be so polite after refusing the same thing (basically) twice already. He wasn’t trying to cause problems, but he was already riled up.
He was already considering quitting the team. More people there would just make it an easier decision. Not that he was going to tell anyone that, probably.
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:12 pm
Nodding again, Luke put down the small, plastic pouch and looked at Riker, brows furrowing a little bit more. “No worries, about the food, I just didn’t want to slight you while I had extra but.”
Luke fell silent, still trying to figure out what was best to say. But.
“Is it just going to be boring or something? I’ve never really done much in the way of sports, my brother always tries to get me to get into more physical things. He worries about me, I guess. Thinks I’m weak.” It was mostly the truth, he wasn’t going to go into the reasons why he needed to be more physically fit, (so said Jason).
“I’m sorry in advance if I ask something stupid but like…do you do more sprints or long races? And are there like…those hurdles that you see in running shows and the olympics and all that?”
If he was worried about them being bored…that was kind of sweet, and he gave a small, still slightly concerned smile.
“If that’s the reason, you worried about Julian and I being bored, don’t be. We’d both just want to cheer you on. I could even make a sign, maybe. Should be some time tonight or tomorrow morning…”
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:20 pm
“Please don’t,” he hissed with growing distress. His ears were burning and he was clearly flustered the most Luke talked about going to the meet. <********, I don’t want anyone there! And what kind of stupid insult is that? Weak? Who even uses that? If your brother says that about you, what does he say about Julian? What do you say about Julian if you’re holding onto something like that?? That’s just so pathetically manipulative and vague. Weak. What a stupid thing to call people. What, is your brother five?”
He was clearly agitated and frustrated. Luke was either being obtuse or just oblivious in that Riker didn’t want him to show up to his meet.
He was annoyed because if Luke was throwing around words like weak, even just to talk about what his brother said to him, how was that making Julian feel? Julian, who had a busted wrist and was malnourished and naturally smaller than most of the other teenagers their age. Was Julian weak because he didn’t do any sports?
He didn’t even bother answering the question about what kind of races he did. He was too flustered to even think about it.
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