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Abby glanced down at her phone, 12:05 p.m. Her next set of classes weren't until 3 so until then she had time. The dark skinned beauty slipped the slim device back into her pocket and strode across the campus, her long legs eating up the ground.
At 20 she wasn't going to be growing any more but at nearly 5’10” she didn't need to. Whipcord thin, her hair tied in a neat bun at the base of her head, and her stylish but modest outfit had a few male heads turn in her direction, not that the young lady paid any attention. Her gaze was direct and straightforward, her destination approaching rapidly. The arts building. She was sure she could find an empty room or studio to borrow for a little practice time.
The first few days back after Winter Break was always difficult. Full of students who didn't want to be there and teachers who were just as annoyed.. Her stride slowed to a much more leisurely pace as she got closer to the large building, students mulling around the doors, chatting and even smoking… Even though the school was meant to be smoke free. Her nose wrinkled briefly in disgust. Filthy habit.
At 20 she wasn't going to be growing any more but at nearly 5’10” she didn't need to. Whipcord thin, her hair tied in a neat bun at the base of her head, and her stylish but modest outfit had a few male heads turn in her direction, not that the young lady paid any attention. Her gaze was direct and straightforward, her destination approaching rapidly. The arts building. She was sure she could find an empty room or studio to borrow for a little practice time.
The first few days back after Winter Break was always difficult. Full of students who didn't want to be there and teachers who were just as annoyed.. Her stride slowed to a much more leisurely pace as she got closer to the large building, students mulling around the doors, chatting and even smoking… Even though the school was meant to be smoke free. Her nose wrinkled briefly in disgust. Filthy habit.
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His Tuesdays started and ended early in the day, so by the time noon rolled around his classes were done and he was free to do whatever he wanted until practice. Having been admitted to DCU on a soccer scholarship Cliff always felt like he had to earn his spot on the team, so he worked extra hard to make sure that his skills were up to par. He was on his way out of the campus cafe when he saw her, and his lips immediately turned up into a smile.
"Yo, Abs!" he called as he caught up, "I didn’t hear from you at all during the break. Did I do something wrong?"
"Yo, Abs!" he called as he caught up, "I didn’t hear from you at all during the break. Did I do something wrong?"
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Abby paused when she heard someone call out her ‘name’. There was only one person who would call her that, the young woman turned on her heel just enough to see the young man racing up to her. Scruffy hair, casual clothes, and bright umber eyes had her rolling her eyes. “Good afternoon Clifford.” She stressed his name while shooting a small smile at him, barely annoyed by the nickname since she was rather used to it by now. After years of him calling her Abs, her irritation was more habit by now.
“Classes over already?” She asked before shaking her head no. “Dad took us back to London for the short break. I thought I texted you…” She winced and remembered how she was about to tell him when Sherlock got in the way, by the time she was done showering the elderly dog with attention it was time to go and she had completely forgotten to let the soccer player know her plans.
“Sorry about that. Nothing serious happened while I was way did it?” The boy next to her knew what she meant, anyone overhearing their conversation would have no clue. After several years working together they had a kind of shorthand and a friendship that others would question, even if he had been gone just as long before showing back up the past summer. It was like he had never left.
“Classes over already?” She asked before shaking her head no. “Dad took us back to London for the short break. I thought I texted you…” She winced and remembered how she was about to tell him when Sherlock got in the way, by the time she was done showering the elderly dog with attention it was time to go and she had completely forgotten to let the soccer player know her plans.
“Sorry about that. Nothing serious happened while I was way did it?” The boy next to her knew what she meant, anyone overhearing their conversation would have no clue. After several years working together they had a kind of shorthand and a friendship that others would question, even if he had been gone just as long before showing back up the past summer. It was like he had never left.
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The brunette couldn't deny the relief that washed over him when she shook her head, though coupled with it was a bit of disappointment that she didn't tell him about her trip. He never heard back from the invite he sent her to hang out during the break, so he spent it instead worrying and practicing and joining scrimmage games at the park.
"Yeah, only got classes 'til noon today," he answered first as he took up the space just in front of her. "And no, you didn't text me. All good, though. I had a lot of extra time to practice, I guess."
He did his best to shrug it off and looked around, trying to figure out which building they were in before he realized and gestured for her to walk on ahead. He didn't want to waste whatever time she had right then to put into practice, after all. And he knew that's why she was in this particular building. "So it's back to the studio, huh? Didn't get any time in, in London?"
"Yeah, only got classes 'til noon today," he answered first as he took up the space just in front of her. "And no, you didn't text me. All good, though. I had a lot of extra time to practice, I guess."
He did his best to shrug it off and looked around, trying to figure out which building they were in before he realized and gestured for her to walk on ahead. He didn't want to waste whatever time she had right then to put into practice, after all. And he knew that's why she was in this particular building. "So it's back to the studio, huh? Didn't get any time in, in London?"
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“Lucky. I've got classes later in the afternoon still to go too. It's a serious drag.” She led them deeper into the building. “Yeah sorry about that. Sherlock was feeling particularly clingy right before we left. I really did mean to let you know.” She tossed him a sheepish smile, “at least you got some practice in. You have to keep your skills up to keep the scholarship.” Abby was lucky because her classes were paid for by the college itself, perks of her dad working in the theater department. All they had to cover was books and supplies.
Finding an empty studio she strode in and let her bag fall against the wall. Before turning back to face Cliff, “Always. There was a little bit but not as much as I should have. And after this morning of stupid questions and homework I just needed to work out some.” As she spoke she kicked off her low heeled shoes, and in one move pulled her lilac dress over her head revealing the black leotard underneath. The leggings that had made the dress cold weather appropriate were actually part of the leotard. With her hair up, in the skin tight suit, and small socks Abby looked every bit of the dancer she was. It never even occurred to her that she had basically stripped in front of a boy. It wasn’t like Cliff was ‘a boy’ to her, he was just Cliff.
“So other than practice did you do anything fun over the break?” Her question was a bit strained as she had started to stretch; her arms behind her head, pulling the muscles tight, her back arching slightly pushing her chest out.
Finding an empty studio she strode in and let her bag fall against the wall. Before turning back to face Cliff, “Always. There was a little bit but not as much as I should have. And after this morning of stupid questions and homework I just needed to work out some.” As she spoke she kicked off her low heeled shoes, and in one move pulled her lilac dress over her head revealing the black leotard underneath. The leggings that had made the dress cold weather appropriate were actually part of the leotard. With her hair up, in the skin tight suit, and small socks Abby looked every bit of the dancer she was. It never even occurred to her that she had basically stripped in front of a boy. It wasn’t like Cliff was ‘a boy’ to her, he was just Cliff.
“So other than practice did you do anything fun over the break?” Her question was a bit strained as she had started to stretch; her arms behind her head, pulling the muscles tight, her back arching slightly pushing her chest out.
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Cliff followed her in and positioned himself beside her bag, back against the wall as he pulled out his laptop to be a little productive while he spent a bit of time with Abby. This seemed particularly routine, though he did sneak glances every so often while the young woman stretched. There were times that he thought she did some stretches purposely facing a certain way that it gave him a very...open...view of places he probably shouldn't pay attention to unless he wanted a slap in the face, but he knew better. She'd never seen him that way before, not when they were kids and definitely not since he had come back.
"At least," he said as he started working on a paper due at the end of the week. "And I know. I practice almost as often as I breathe, it feels like." He wasn't really kidding either; he spent over half of his life on the field since getting the scholarship, and he felt that pressure more than anyone.
Her question got a little shrug out of him as he looked up and caught her mid-stretch again, and he had to sigh and shake his head a little bit to keep his body from reacting in a way that would be incredibly inappropriate given the public space before he could answer. "Not really? I spent some time with Dominic, but that’s about it.”
Cliff shrugged once more, as if his time hadn't really been well-spent.
"Good thing you got some time in at all, then? And yeah, I've already got two papers due at the end of the week and a gross amount of math homework due tomorrow, plus Coach has been riding the team to get back into shape now that we're back. Says we gotta 'work off our new beer guts' or something. Look at me!" He lifted up the front of his shirt to reveal his washboard abs and scoffed. "I don't have a beer gut, I can’t even drink!"
"At least," he said as he started working on a paper due at the end of the week. "And I know. I practice almost as often as I breathe, it feels like." He wasn't really kidding either; he spent over half of his life on the field since getting the scholarship, and he felt that pressure more than anyone.
Her question got a little shrug out of him as he looked up and caught her mid-stretch again, and he had to sigh and shake his head a little bit to keep his body from reacting in a way that would be incredibly inappropriate given the public space before he could answer. "Not really? I spent some time with Dominic, but that’s about it.”
Cliff shrugged once more, as if his time hadn't really been well-spent.
"Good thing you got some time in at all, then? And yeah, I've already got two papers due at the end of the week and a gross amount of math homework due tomorrow, plus Coach has been riding the team to get back into shape now that we're back. Says we gotta 'work off our new beer guts' or something. Look at me!" He lifted up the front of his shirt to reveal his washboard abs and scoffed. "I don't have a beer gut, I can’t even drink!"
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Abby shook her head slightly, “just don't overdo it.” There were so many ways for an athlete to get hurt and she would hate to see her friend get hurt doing something he loved. Twisting, she would hear her joints pop slightly from the pressure, “what no girlfriend to hang out with during the break?”
By this point she was on the floor, her legs in a split as she stretched to reach her right foot, “who was it a few weeks ago… Some blond...a food name I believe.” She bent over backwards, literally, to reach for her left foot while maintaining the split. “Candy, Cherry, Cookie… Coco,” her voice was rather breathy since her whole form was tight. “Something like that. Who names their child after food?”
The question was rhetorical as she started in on her last set of stretches. “I was able to swing some spare room in a local studio but between friends, homework, and dad’s stuff. It wasn't nearly enough time.” She shook her head at Cliff’s homework woes, “it could always be worse. As for your coach. Sounds like some of your other teammates enjoyed the holiday food a bit more, or at least didn't work out like you did.” All stretched she got to her feet just as he pulled his shirt up and pointed out his lack of gut. “I agree, more like a six pack than a keg.” With a bright smile she started to dance.
Not quite ballet, not modern, or ballroom but somehow all three with jumps and twists and tucks and rolls. There were even a few fighting moves in her freestyle, something she had picked up over the years, particularly from Capoirea.
By this point she was on the floor, her legs in a split as she stretched to reach her right foot, “who was it a few weeks ago… Some blond...a food name I believe.” She bent over backwards, literally, to reach for her left foot while maintaining the split. “Candy, Cherry, Cookie… Coco,” her voice was rather breathy since her whole form was tight. “Something like that. Who names their child after food?”
The question was rhetorical as she started in on her last set of stretches. “I was able to swing some spare room in a local studio but between friends, homework, and dad’s stuff. It wasn't nearly enough time.” She shook her head at Cliff’s homework woes, “it could always be worse. As for your coach. Sounds like some of your other teammates enjoyed the holiday food a bit more, or at least didn't work out like you did.” All stretched she got to her feet just as he pulled his shirt up and pointed out his lack of gut. “I agree, more like a six pack than a keg.” With a bright smile she started to dance.
Not quite ballet, not modern, or ballroom but somehow all three with jumps and twists and tucks and rolls. There were even a few fighting moves in her freestyle, something she had picked up over the years, particularly from Capoirea.
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"Brandy?" he asked with a curiously raised brow. They dated for all of what, four days before she went off with some bonehead on the football team? Not that he cared all that much. It wasn't anything even remotely serious, anyway; she was cute and he asked her out on a dare from a buddy. "Yeah, no. She's with that Jeff guy now. You know, the star QB?" His voice was certainly nonchalant, just so Abby got the gist that he didn't really care about how things turned out with the blonde.
Cliff didn't get a chance to respond to the little compliment since she started dancing, so his eyes and thoughts drifted back to his laptop. Occasionally he would look up, maybe steal a candid shot or two to ping her later so she could maybe post it on her Instagram or something, but otherwise he left her to her dancing until she took a break some thirty minutes later. He pulled out a bottle of water then.
"Want me to roll it to you or you gonna come here and get it?"
Cliff didn't get a chance to respond to the little compliment since she started dancing, so his eyes and thoughts drifted back to his laptop. Occasionally he would look up, maybe steal a candid shot or two to ping her later so she could maybe post it on her Instagram or something, but otherwise he left her to her dancing until she took a break some thirty minutes later. He pulled out a bottle of water then.
"Want me to roll it to you or you gonna come here and get it?"
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Abby finished her dance sitting on the floor. Still breathing heavily she shook her head no. “I got to get the towel from my bag anyway.” She climbed to her feet gracefully and made her way over towards him, and her bag. “After all, it is the most useful thing an interstellar Hitchhiker can carry.” It was a lame joke but she had loved that movie, the books were harder to get through but the movie… The movie was so fun and fanciful. She joined him against the wall, the cool plaster against her back had her sigh softly in happiness as she used the small hand towel to wipe the sweat off of her face and neck, careful not to snag the silver chain of her necklace in the cotton fibers.
“Brandy. Yes of course.” She took the offered water, twisted the lid off and gulped half the bottle before taking a breath. “You know I don't follow the school’s sports teams. I only come to the games when you ask me too.” She let her legs just stretch out in front of her, as she leaned her head against the wall and studied the ceiling. “Never got football anyway. A bunch of guys tackling each other over a silly little ball. At Least soccer and baseball take more finesse than just bum rushing the other guy. Honestly a bit surprised that there haven't been more footballers coming out of the closet.” She shrugged slightly and turned to look at him. “So what kind of papers do you need to get done? Most of my teachers are just reminding us about the papers that they assigned before the break. Although I do believe most of my classmates are scrambling to get them done since they just goofed away the time.”
“Brandy. Yes of course.” She took the offered water, twisted the lid off and gulped half the bottle before taking a breath. “You know I don't follow the school’s sports teams. I only come to the games when you ask me too.” She let her legs just stretch out in front of her, as she leaned her head against the wall and studied the ceiling. “Never got football anyway. A bunch of guys tackling each other over a silly little ball. At Least soccer and baseball take more finesse than just bum rushing the other guy. Honestly a bit surprised that there haven't been more footballers coming out of the closet.” She shrugged slightly and turned to look at him. “So what kind of papers do you need to get done? Most of my teachers are just reminding us about the papers that they assigned before the break. Although I do believe most of my classmates are scrambling to get them done since they just goofed away the time.”
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The movie reference didn't go unnoticed, though he only knew it because she'd said it before and he did a bit of digging for her sake. He scooted over a little to make room for her beside him and gave her a friendly nudge, shoulder to shoulder, when she finally got settled.
"I know, and all the games I ask you to are soccer games, so thank you for always coming when I ask." Cliff gave his best smile, honest and genuine like he'd always been ever since he was a kid. "And I think there are a lot out of the closet, but like with anyone it’s not like they have to scream it from the rooftops unless they want to.”
He shrugged as well and stretched out his legs, playfully nudging her foot with his own when she posed the next question.
"Eh, English and Sociology. The rest of my classes just had little projects and I already turned those in right when we got back." He refused to comment on goofing off during the break; he did plenty of that, but only after he finished what he had to get done. "Lucky you, though. So can I whisk you away for a little bit after practice tonight? I think there's some new movies on Netflix we can catch."
"I know, and all the games I ask you to are soccer games, so thank you for always coming when I ask." Cliff gave his best smile, honest and genuine like he'd always been ever since he was a kid. "And I think there are a lot out of the closet, but like with anyone it’s not like they have to scream it from the rooftops unless they want to.”
He shrugged as well and stretched out his legs, playfully nudging her foot with his own when she posed the next question.
"Eh, English and Sociology. The rest of my classes just had little projects and I already turned those in right when we got back." He refused to comment on goofing off during the break; he did plenty of that, but only after he finished what he had to get done. "Lucky you, though. So can I whisk you away for a little bit after practice tonight? I think there's some new movies on Netflix we can catch."
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Abby made a face at him and nudged him back. “Meh. It's not like it's hard to sit there and watch your team run back and forth across the field. Remember that one time when you guys won a particularly hard game and one of your teammates pulled his shirt off and started to spin it around his head. I thought your coach was going to strangle him with it.” She chuckled and started to poke him with her foot. “Well good for the players, what does it matter who you like. I'm glad that no one seems to care.”
She finished the water and slipped the empty bottle in her bag. She would refill it or recycle it when she had the chance. “You must have one or two of those really strict teachers. My English class is the only one that is insane this year, that and Chinese but that's not easy to begin with. You should look into taking creative writing next year. It's very therapeutic to kill off people.”
She shrugged and nodded, “your place or mine? I've still got some work to do but I should be able to do most of it before my classes at 3.” She did a bit of mental calculation and added, “I should get out at 6. We can grab pizza or something on the way back. Who's turn is it to pay anyway?” They had been doing these occasional movie nights for a while now, whenever they both had the time, and they alternated in buying the food.
She finished the water and slipped the empty bottle in her bag. She would refill it or recycle it when she had the chance. “You must have one or two of those really strict teachers. My English class is the only one that is insane this year, that and Chinese but that's not easy to begin with. You should look into taking creative writing next year. It's very therapeutic to kill off people.”
She shrugged and nodded, “your place or mine? I've still got some work to do but I should be able to do most of it before my classes at 3.” She did a bit of mental calculation and added, “I should get out at 6. We can grab pizza or something on the way back. Who's turn is it to pay anyway?” They had been doing these occasional movie nights for a while now, whenever they both had the time, and they alternated in buying the food.
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Cliff smirked. "If I had done that would you have thought the same thing, or...?" he asked, mostly just to poke fun but he was also kind of curious if she'd actually notice something like that if it were him. It'd be a small hit to his ego if she didn't, of course, but he could just play it off as no big deal either way. He'd leaned back and just sort of relaxed now, his paper probably the furthest thing from his mind at this point so he didn't realize that his wallpaper had gone up.
"Yeah, strict but not impossible to keep up with. I just gotta make sure to stay on top of it otherwise I'll never be able to catch up." The suggestion to "therapeutically kill off people" was a bit surprising, but it did get a chuckle out of him. "Light and therapeutic sounds good. I'll consider it if it meets a requirement for my major…"
When she agreed to the hangout he felt relief wash over him again, and his smile widened. "Mine, I guess. And it's my turn for the food, too, so don't worry about that. Meet me at the field when you're done?”
"Yeah, strict but not impossible to keep up with. I just gotta make sure to stay on top of it otherwise I'll never be able to catch up." The suggestion to "therapeutically kill off people" was a bit surprising, but it did get a chuckle out of him. "Light and therapeutic sounds good. I'll consider it if it meets a requirement for my major…"
When she agreed to the hangout he felt relief wash over him again, and his smile widened. "Mine, I guess. And it's my turn for the food, too, so don't worry about that. Meet me at the field when you're done?”
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“Would I have thought it was funny? Yes. I didn't even know a person could turn that shade of red.” Abby had really wondered if the coach was going to have a coronary while yelling at the player.
She glanced over at him just as his screensaver kicked in, curious she leaned over, her head resting on his shoulder and studied the image. “Oh I remember that!” She pointed to one of the collaged images where Cliff and her were making faces at the camera. “Hey, when did you take that one?” She asked, pointing to one where she was at the beach, laughing into the camera. “I didn't even realize you took a picture.” She glanced up at him and wrinkled her nose at him. “You should have more pictures of your other friends. Your teammates, you could even have one or two of your exes though I kind of understand why not them.” She ruffled his hair playfully before leaning back and started to put her stuff away. She slipped her dress back on over her head and shifted around until it was on properly, “you should definitely look into it. I've killed off one or two of our acquaintances already. Their deaths were quite spectacular and bloody. Very satisfying.”
She grabbed her bag and got to her feet, “ok. It's a date. I'll meet you at the field once my class is over, if it's running late I'll toss you a text.” She slipped her feet into her heels and smoothed down her dress until she looked as put together as she did before she had started to dance. “I've got to head for the library to finish my work so I don't have to worry about it tonight.” She strode out of the room only to pop her head back in a moment later. “Don't stress too hard on practice or papers. See you after class.” And then she was gone, her heels echoing down the hall until even those faded away.
She glanced over at him just as his screensaver kicked in, curious she leaned over, her head resting on his shoulder and studied the image. “Oh I remember that!” She pointed to one of the collaged images where Cliff and her were making faces at the camera. “Hey, when did you take that one?” She asked, pointing to one where she was at the beach, laughing into the camera. “I didn't even realize you took a picture.” She glanced up at him and wrinkled her nose at him. “You should have more pictures of your other friends. Your teammates, you could even have one or two of your exes though I kind of understand why not them.” She ruffled his hair playfully before leaning back and started to put her stuff away. She slipped her dress back on over her head and shifted around until it was on properly, “you should definitely look into it. I've killed off one or two of our acquaintances already. Their deaths were quite spectacular and bloody. Very satisfying.”
She grabbed her bag and got to her feet, “ok. It's a date. I'll meet you at the field once my class is over, if it's running late I'll toss you a text.” She slipped her feet into her heels and smoothed down her dress until she looked as put together as she did before she had started to dance. “I've got to head for the library to finish my work so I don't have to worry about it tonight.” She strode out of the room only to pop her head back in a moment later. “Don't stress too hard on practice or papers. See you after class.” And then she was gone, her heels echoing down the hall until even those faded away.
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The reply he got was about what he expected it to be so Cliff simply shrugged it off. The memory of that incident was amusing enough on its own without his personal thoughts getting in the way, so it wasn't all bad, and he was about ready to let this instance go as just another brief hangout with a good friend when she leaned onto his shoulder a bit. His brows scrunched up for a second and he followed her pointer finger to his screensaver, and his mouth formed an "o" shape at the realization.
"Yeah, I got the better memories on my screensaver. Good for when I'm feeling nostalgic," he explained, though it was a half-truth at best. When she mentioned the candid that came up the brunette gave a warm smile and a chuckle in reply. "I thought it was a good moment so I took the shot. And I do have pictures of my other friends; the thing cycles through my albums," again, a half-truth. It cycled through only certain albums. The idea of his exes had him wrinkling his nose as he shook his head at that idea.
"No good memories there," he said, making a face when she ruffled his hair. Noticing that she was packing up and getting ready to leave, he followed suit and was on his feet soon after her. "Alright, sounds good," he replied as she raced off. When she popped her head back for a moment he couldn't help but smirk, then nod as she disappeared again. "I won't. See ya."
Cliff followed her out, soccer ball once again in hand. He had to head to his dorm to grab his gear and he had a lot of time, but he still jogged most of the way over. He had something to look forward to, after all, and he was more than a little excited.
"Yeah, I got the better memories on my screensaver. Good for when I'm feeling nostalgic," he explained, though it was a half-truth at best. When she mentioned the candid that came up the brunette gave a warm smile and a chuckle in reply. "I thought it was a good moment so I took the shot. And I do have pictures of my other friends; the thing cycles through my albums," again, a half-truth. It cycled through only certain albums. The idea of his exes had him wrinkling his nose as he shook his head at that idea.
"No good memories there," he said, making a face when she ruffled his hair. Noticing that she was packing up and getting ready to leave, he followed suit and was on his feet soon after her. "Alright, sounds good," he replied as she raced off. When she popped her head back for a moment he couldn't help but smirk, then nod as she disappeared again. "I won't. See ya."
Cliff followed her out, soccer ball once again in hand. He had to head to his dorm to grab his gear and he had a lot of time, but he still jogged most of the way over. He had something to look forward to, after all, and he was more than a little excited.
itspao_
