Kind of short and introductory, but oh well. It gets better later, you'll find out when i get around to typing it up XP
MURTAGH
I've always had to run; it's my way of surviving, forgetting. I ran from my deranged father all those years ago. I run from my friends when they seem to be getting too close. I just thought, when the time came, I would have the guts to stay with him – or let him close for that matter. My life is a mess – always has been – I just thought perhaps I could change it.
-XOX-
"Aww! Come on Taggy!" now you see why I run from my friends, out of sheer irritation with Arya. If it was just Thorn I would have no reason to.
"As it involves clubbing, and eventually practical and/or gay jokes, I think I see fit to decline your offer."
"Taggy! You're no fun at all!"
I hate being called that. Arya looked hurt at the mention of the gay jokes, but it serves her right as she's the only one who makes them. Besides, I'm bisexual.
"No, I have a paper to write." I had literally just remembered it, so I was quite pleased that it seemed plausible.
"Isn't it funny that when going out is mentioned, you suddenly have a ton of work to do, but when it's just us you drop everything and drink yourself senseless?"
Thorn rarely speaks, probably because he has Arya to compete with on that front and you usually can't get a word in edgeways when she's around. I summon my most angry stare, fully aware of how much it makes me resemble my father.
"And what, do you mean by that?" He opens his mouth to speak but is quickly cut off. Stupid Arya.
"What he means is; you need to get a life! Go out and meet new people. God forbid, you might even have fun!"
"No." I get up and stride to the door, uncomfortable with the mere thought of it.
"But 'Tag-"I slam the door on her whiny protests and do what I do best – I run.
I can't, I just can't. The rhythmic pounding of my feet and heart slowly calms me, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Why did I forget my iPod? Now I have nothing to distract me. I look up at the buildings and shops flashing past and almost groan when I realize I'm heading in a direction that does not lead back to my flat. No chances of a side-stop to go and get it then.
Why did they have to bring up my social awkwardness? I do try – or at least I used to – but I don't fit in and somehow manage to alienate people without realising. It's just that I find it hard to express myself, other than through music. Nobody knows about that though, and I like it better that way. I'd never hear the end of it if Arya found out.
I don't know why, but I'm going so fast now that the air hurts my chest as I breathe. I should be pacing myself, not outright sprinting.
But then again, if she found out about the music, it wouldn't be as bad as if she found out about father…NO! Don't think – just run. Leave him behind. I don't need him messing with my head.
Without meaning to, I accelerate further. My body is completely pushed to its limit now, and there's no way I can possibly keep this up for long. I look around me again and inwardly cruse. Somehow I ended up in central campus.
I subconsciously turn down a path that heads in the direction of my flat, but I already know I won't make it there. It's at times like this that I really wish I were some sort of cyborg or über human. No! Keep going, just a little further. I can't let anyone see me like this, just hold on until you get to a more secluded spot.
-XOX-
ERAGON
Since starting university last month, I've been swamped with work and my social life had disappeared almost immediately. The times I saw Saphira around, one of us had something to do. Today is the first break in schedule we both had
I linger as I walk through the wooded area of the park on the outskirts of campus grounds. I know I'll be late, but I've never been known for good timekeeping so it doesn't bother me too much. I follow the bend in the path and see a student sitting on a bench. His ragged raven hair conceals his face from view in his position hunched over his knees. I hear something that sounds akin to a sob.
"Excuse me, but are you alright?" I cringe at the sound of my voice, husky from lack of use.
The body whips upright, and I can see it is Murtagh, a boy a year or so older than me. His pale face is expressionless but his dark eyes flicker fear and anger in quick succession, before being replaced with the hard stare that it is rare to see him without.
"I'm fine."
The response is automatic, as if he were used to saying it without thinking. But why…? That's as much as I can deduce with intuition and an A-level in phycology. I hesitate, unsure if I should get him to open up, but at the same time weary of making Saphira angry with excessive lateness.
"You may leave now."
He prompts in an icy tone. Definitely hiding something, and whatever it is I will find out. I can't stand to see people hurting, even if they deserve it.
-XOX-
MURTAGH
I watch him walk away with what I assume to be relief singing through my veins. I let my rigid body slump as the unsettling boy walks out of view. He saw me at my lowest and didn't so much as bat an eyelid whereas most people would have left, my reputation alone enough to do that. Those icy blue eyes seemed to look into my very soul and I am glad he left when he did; else I might have done something I would later come to regret.
I sit for a moment longer, puzzling over him before I stand on shaky legs. No point bothering myself over a creepy guy I barely know. I slowly take a short cut through the trees on my weakened legs to get back to my flat as quickly as possible.
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