The rest of the school year passed with no incidents, and I'm back at the docks helping at the place I worked at last summer. I'm also keeping the job at the pharmacy during the weekends, to keep the money flow up. It's exhausting, but I've saved quite a lot; not that I know what to do with it aside from paying for Tula's vet visits. She's almost fully-grown now, and her gold and ivory fur is absolutely stunning. Especially now that she's eating way better than she was on the streets.
Rowan accused me of being a money grubbing old shut in, and demanded that I take a day off, hang out with her at the closest mall, and buy her food. All in that order. I was unable to refuse because she said that if I didn't call in to work, she would; and she wouldn't be tactful about it. She also mentioned something along the lines of me going to the hospital because of something to do with my butt. So here we are, sitting in the food court and staring at our surroundings. I obviously am the one describing people's looks and what they're doing, while Rowan makes witty quips about them. This stirs up amusing conversations about people's fantastical lives, and the 'scandals' they're embroiled in. Rayne would be here, but she said that she was busy stalking her latest quarry, and had no time for us. The flake.
"Oh there's one, it's a man sitting at a table in the middle of the café. He is sipping what seems to be a mocha, possibly non-fat. Good looking in a soft kind of way, and looks like a businessman with slicked brown hair and a nice suit. It's an off the rack kind though, not tailored. His shoes look like they cost more than three of Tula's vet visits, and it seems that he's making eyes at the waitress who has a ring on her finger."
"Oh my, it seems she's making them back. What scandal. Tell me, Will, is there a baby bump, or is it too soon to tell?"
I smile and turn back to her.
"Definitely a baby bump, do you think it's his or her actual partners?"
She leans her chin on her hand and drums her fingers along the side of her face, thinking for a bit.
"Hmmm, that's the fun part. It's her partners'. Mr. Fresh and Proper is convinced it's his since she slept with him a few months ago, and has been trying for an encore ever since. He's planning on ordering a paternity test and, no matter who the father really is, her transgressions will be exposed."
She then sighs and shakes her head, shrugging in a 'what can you do' kind of way.
"He hopes that she will then have no choice but to be with him. Little does he know that she loves neither, only the money and attention."
I chuckle down into my sandwich and look back up at her.
"Did we just write a soap opera?"
She looks back at me with a sly little grin and snorts.
"Only saps watch those for the story. Anyone with a brain can tell that they're just comedies wrapped in a frilly bow and then repeated at infinitum."
"Doesn't that still make them boring and unoriginal?"
She takes a sip of her iced tea and sets it back down.
"You can't account for taste hun."
This goes on for a bit longer with different people, until I catch sight of a rather familiar figure. I double take and stare at some kid who is just coming out of a bookstore. He's relatively tall looking from this distance, and has pale blond hair that is brushed back behind his ears. His face, particularly his cheeks and jaw, has a very subtle sharpness to it under his soft, pale skin. He is neatly dressed, looking like one of those catholic husbands, and carries himself with as much grace as any teenager possibly could. I stare at him as he walks into the sandwich shop, only startling back into reality when Rowan clears her throat.
"You ok Will? Do I have to do CPR, because I am not putting my mouth on yours; too many germs."
"How would you know? It's not like you've seen it."
She smirks and leans back into her chair.
"Two words, man germs. I don't want your cooties infecting me."
"At least Tula appreciates me."
"That only makes me more concerned for you hun."
We laugh at that and continue with our banter for another hour or so, before we have to leave and go our separate ways. The summer continues on as normal, with me taking Friday's off to meet Rowan at the mall for our new favorite activity. Rayne eventually joins us with a tag along of her own. It seems that the person whom she was stalking was a girl named Gale, who apparently is in the same grade as us. She has mousy brown hair that extends to the middle of her back, and has slightly tan skin that freckles mildly along her nose.
She's a Beta girl who constantly wears long sundresses and the occasional braid in her hair, which has beads or flowers woven in. She is obviously a flower child from the way she softly speaks about the earth, and looks horrified at any form of meat product. She also has a very terrifying obsession with pickles, eating them whenever possible; even with things that don't need them anywhere near their vicinity. I would question why Rayne has her hanging with us at all, but I had picked up on her feelings for her when our eyes met briefly. She loves her, or at least has a deep crush on her, and I decided it was best to leave it be. It will either develop further, or it won't. Either way, it isn't any of my business.
The summer soon fades into autumn, and we're back in school again. Rowan and I are sharing many classes together, along with an occasional one with Rayne and Gale. Those two got together at some point, and became an official item at last. Nothing much has changed yet this year, except for all the gossip about some foreign student from Germany who's a senior. Why, out of all the schools in the country, he chose one in a rather poor district in a state that is as far south as you can get, is beyond me. Maybe he doesn't care about his education or his future at all. Well, I can't really criticize, but I didn't really have much of a choice in the matter.
It's about three weeks into my sophomore year, and two weeks from my 16th birthday, which is the 20th of September, when I finally meet the famed new student. I'm walking down the halls to my third class, when someone gently tugs on my sleeve; startling me before he plants himself in my way. My eyes flit over him briefly as I frown from the sudden intrusion, as well as wonder where I've seen this guy before. He gently smiles and raises his hands in apology, finally letting go of my sleeve.
"My apologies, I would have called out to you but I didn't know your name. Mine is Falk Alonsa, may I have the pleasure of hearing yours?"
I frown deeper at this guy and grumble out my reply, keeping my eyes trained on his chest. He has a rather thick accent, it sounds like his words are being forced past his teeth and gums. I inhale a bit and it seems that he's a Beta, a rather weak smelling one as far as Beta scents go. Not as weak as my non-existent smell of course. I'm almost 16, and I'm pretty sure that I presented and didn't notice because I have no scent to speak of. It might be because of my past life, but I'm not going to question it too much at this point.
"Will Graham. Did you need something, or can I go now?"
Falk shifts his weight, lowering the hand he had extended in greeting when I didn't take it. He clears his throat a little nervously, and continues on.
"Ah, well, I simply wished to get to know you. I saw you and your friends over the summer at the shopping centre and thought your conversations were quite entertaining, among other things."
Oh, now I remember where I've seen him. My frown deepens as I start to shift back and forth, soon huffing and skirting around him.
"That's nice, but I have to get to class. Bye."
I hurry on before I can hear any complaints. I may have inadvertently made friends in this life, but that doesn't mean I want some near stranger blatantly hitting on me. I get to my class just in time, and sit down at my desk that is to the left of Rowan's. He might have been interested in me before, but he surely won't be now that he's gotten a taste of my surliness.
I was wrong, that Falk guy wasn't put off in the slightest by my attitude. In fact, I think he was encouraged by it. He kept trying to engage me in conversation between our classes, and I kept being anti-social and downright rude; aborting his attempts to communicate and be friendly, in favor of getting to my classes on time. I thought I had finally managed to dissuade him one day when he didn't stop me in the hall like usual, but he had only decided to ambush me at lunch instead. The gang and I were eating and chatting around our food, Gale sucking on some pickle slices, when someone cleared their throat. Once he caught our attention, he smiled gently down at us, gesturing to the free seat between Rowan and I. Mostly staring at me the entire time.
"Sorry to interrupt you all, but may I sit here?"
None of us really say anything, and he plops down with his food anyway with a smile. Rowan is the first to break the ice as she turns her head in his direction, her face placid as it usually is around people outside the group.
"So, judging by your accent you must be the foreign student in senior year. Care to enlighten us as to why you've graced us with your presence?"
"Ah, yes, from Germany right? What kind of local vegetarian recipes do you know?"
Gale asked with her usual zen face and breathy voice, while Rayne just looks at him with calculating eyes. Falk turns a pleased smile to the two, and responded with a grace only Hannibal could outmatch. The thought makes me grimace and pick my food apart instead of eat it.
"Yes, my name is Falk and am indeed from Germany. I must admit that I have been trying to befriend your dear Will here, but he has been quite busy and hasn't had much time to converse. In regards to your question, ah-"
"Gale, that's Rowan and this is Rayne, my girlfriend."
"Gale, thank you. I am not much of a cook, but I could certainly find out for you."
She smiles easily, and hums in contentment. It's her way of saying she likes or agrees with something. Rayne simply narrows her eyes, and stabs her fork into the food on her tray; keeping eye contact with him until he nervously diverts over to Rowan.
"Ah, Rowan correct? I have heard that you have problems with your eyesight. I am curious, are you completely blind or can you see a bit?"
I cringe away from him as he asks this horribly awkward question, and cough. What the hell is wrong with this guy? Rowan, to her credit, simply raises her eyebrows a tad, eyes flickering in my direction before turning fully to him.
"I am fully blind, have been since birth because of a genetic defect. Do you have anymore deeply personal questions for me, or are you going to stop trying so hard to get Will's attention?"
Falk splutters out an apology and finally focuses on his food, and I fight not to laugh; only failing to keep a smirk off my face. After a few minuets, I feel sorry for the guy and actually initiate the conversation this time.
"So, what part of Germany are you from, and why in god's name did you come to New Orleans?"
