Author's Note: Here it is. Part 1 of 2 of a collaboration technically over a year in the making between the ever-talented Sraosha and I. Many of the characters in this brief duology come from his story, Persona: Duality. A lot of time and work went into these vignettes and I hope you have as much fun reading it as we did writing it!
Chapter 21 – Visitors and Vagabonds, Part I
[ September 10th, 2012 | Airport | 8:04 AM ]
Light poured in through the open hatches in the lofty rafters as Samuel Lovelace deftly maneuvered his way through the crowd, a leather jacket slung over his shoulder and a cell phone clamped tightly against his ear. It was a busy day at the airport—not like there were days when the airport wasn't busy—but Samuel was only here to drop off a friend and nothing more. Having been granted a leave of absence for the day left him with all the time in the world and nothing to do with it.
The scent of freshly ground coffee beans wafted from one of the kiosks further down the airport near the baggage claim bay. Seeing that he had plenty of time to kill, Samuel felt for the wallet in the back of his jeans and headed its way.
The cashier smiled when he approached the register. "What'll you be having, sir?"
"Just a mocha frappuccino, please. No cream."
The girl at the kiosk left the register and set about making his order in the miniature, compartmentalized kitchen set up behind her. While she busied out doing her job, Samuel couldn't help but linger on his own.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Samuel thought, running a hand through his fading brown hair. I don't do anything outside of my job… and a well-liked student just passed away. I should be back at Glasswater counseling those kids. Not like I expect anyone to give a damn, but, still…
Tiredly, Samuel began casting fleeting looks at all the other occupants of the terminal. He looked at all the people walking around and wondered what stories they could tell him, what issues they might have been facing in their own personal lives. One man carried a gargantuan sign with large, black, bolded letters that read, 'ELLIE'. His eyes were keen and energetic. Another woman in military attire kneeled on the floor as a small child toddled its way over to, presumably, its mother's arms. A man smiled at them from a short distance away, his arms folded. Further still, there was a couple near the baggage conveyor belts with their hands intertwined and their lips pressed tightly against each other. Clearly, they were madly in love. There was a ruggedly built man accompanying them, struggling to remove three suitcases from the conveyor belts all at once. The conveyor belt dragged him along against his will. Samuel decided he was an idiot.
Oddly enough, Samuel found his gaze lingering on that couple. The woman was beautiful. Long, blonde hair and a pretty face. The man, too, was handsome. Curly, well-framed red-hair and a stylish suit to match. They were obviously upper-class, much like the infamous Kennedy's back at Glasswater. Samuel stared and stared until it hit him in the face like a sack of red bricks.
Wait a minute… He squinted, just to be sure. I… I know that guy!
It was Nathan Albion. Unmistakably. The curly red hair, especially, was a dead give-away.
It'd been years since Samuel had last spoken to Nathan. Last they had seen each other was during graduation of college way back when. As many friendships tended to go, they promised to stay in touch with each other after school but in the end, nothing ever came of it. Samuel had loved and lost, but clearly Nathan had fared much better both in terms of romance and economic standing. The woman he was with was Priscilla Lancaster, no doubt: still together after all these years.
Samuel was too flabbergasted to feel any kind of jealousy though.
Nathan Albion. He said to himself in his mind, as if he could hardly believe it. And indeed, he could not. What the hell is a guy like Albion doing here?
"Sir," The cashier called, "your frappuccino is ready."
Still in somewhat of a daze, Samuel overpaid and refused the change when the girl offered it back to him. He took a short sip of his caffeinated drink and considered approaching them, but stopped short of himself. There were so many ways this could go wrong. As a counselor, Samuel was well-versed in the intricacies of social communication and the negative stigma it brought with it. He was above anti-socialism and in fact, his job required it.
But to say he was not nervous, to say that he did not want to turn tail and run into his car all the way back to Glasswater… well, that would have been a lie. Yet seeing Nathan here and now was comforting as well. Seeing him and his lovebird was a reminder of the old days, the good days, when all Samuel needed to worry about was getting good grades, feeding himself, and maybe having a job to put him through school on the side.
Samuel was torn.
But he was not a coward. Firmly gripping the cup in his hand, Samuel walked over, putting on a broad smile and his most confident walk.
"Nathan Albion!" Samuel boomed.
His call drew Nathan's attention, away from Priscilla. He, his woman, and the rugged looking man next to them all turned to stare at him as he approached, but the only one of their gazes Samuel met was Nathan's. It took a moment for Nathan to register Samuel's face, but a light-bulb flashed and recognition took over.
"…Samuel?" Nathan pulled away from Priscilla and met Samuel mid-stride. "Samuel Lovelace? My stars! Is that really you?"
"Yeah!" Samuel laughed, not entirely sure whether he was relieved or distressed that Nathan recalled his face so easily. "It's me alright, Sam. You've grown up, Nathan. You look way different compared to when we graduated."
"You've changed yourself quite a bit. I suppose we've all grown up in our own ways." Nathan smiled politely. If one thing hadn't changed, it was Nathan's unflinching sense of formality. Perhaps it was a byproduct of being raised with such higher standards but speaking to Nathan was virtually like speaking to someone from another planet, at times. There was a world of difference between them, and whether Nathan was aware of the social chasm between them or not, Samuel felt the pressure of its gaping maw all the same.
"Um, Nathan?" A blonde woman at Nathan's side nudged him at his side. "Aren't you going to re-introduce us?"
"Oh! Sorry, darling. Forgive me, where are my manners?" Nathan stepped back to his companions and squeezed the hand of the blonde woman. "You remember Priscilla, I'm sure, and the man over… here…" He looked over his shoulder and frowned as the other man drew up next to him, panting with exhaustion and looking very pleased as he slapped three suitcases stacked on top of a baggage cart that looked like it was meant for employees of the airport.
"I got the luggage...phew...not bad, huh?" He breathed excitedly.
Nathan sighed and said, with a slightly less enthused smile, "This exuberant fellow is Blaine Spencer, a very good friend of mine."
"Pleased to meetcha, buddy. So you're Samuel Lovelace, huh? Cool name. Sounds better than Sepncer, though. At least my name's better than my dad's - Tim! Hahaha!" The man's laughter felt like standing in front of a loudspeaker.
Well that's bizarre. Since when did Nathan hang out with thugs like this? Samuel thought with moderate disbelief. He always used to be so uptight and unsociable… I guess he was right. We do grow up in our own ways.
"...So what are you doing here?" Samuel asked. "You going to the city up north?"
"That's half-correct." Nathan replied. "I'm here as a business representative on behalf of my father's company, Albion Incorporated, but we're headed to a town further south called Glasswater." He paused, and then said, "You wouldn't happen to know where that is, would you?"
Of all the luck in the world.
"Know where it is?" Samuel chuckled. "I live there!"
"Sweet! This is my first time away from home! Maybe you could give us a grand tour of the place, show us were the action is!" Blaine said earnestly. He sidled up next to Samuel and whispered in a voice he mistakenly believed was too low for his companions to hear, "You, uh, wouldn't happen to know a good place to get a cheap drink or two would ya?"
"Oh dear..." Priscilla sighed, "He's like a puppy let off his leash."
"Blaine," Nathan exhaled, rolling his eyes. Something about the way he did that was very telling to Samuel, as if keeping Blaine under control was something he did on a daily basis. "I'm sure Samuel has better things to do than act as your personal tour guide." Nathan offered Samuel a slight, apologetic bow and said, "I'm really sorry about him. He's still a little excited after his first ride on an airplane. In fact, he was the only one of us who didn't fall asleep. He was looking out at the clouds or the ground below the whole time..."
"I don't mind." Samuel shrugged. "I'd be more than willingto show you around town if you want. After I get off of work, that is."
"That sounds lovely." Priscilla smiled, clasping her hands. Something occurred to her and she reached into her purse, withdrawing a printed receipt. "If you wouldn't mind me asking, would you happen to know where this hotel is located? It's the one we're staying at for the duration of our stay." As the paper changed hands, she tilted her head and added, "And Samuel... Where do your work?"
"I'm a counselor at the local high school, Glasswater High." Samuel answered, glancing at the hotel name.
Nocturne Heights. He thought, impressed. That's our five-star hotel. Wouldn't expect anything less from an Albion, I suppose. Samuel handed the paper back to Priscilla and nodded. "Yeah, I know where this is. Great place." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder and continued, "Hell, if you want, I can drive you folks to town."
"That's very kind of you. Are you sure it's no trouble?" Nathan said. "I wouldn't want to impose—"
"Forget about it!" Samuel laughed, clapping a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "I'm off for the rest of the day anyway. I dropped off a coworker but I don't have anything else lined up." An idea presented itself within Samuel's mind. "Tell you what. There's this great restaurant I know back at Glasswater and I'd love to take you two out for dinner tonight if you're available. Catch up, have some laughs, the works. If you've got business then by all means, I'll leave you to it but if you have time to spare then I hope you consider my offer."
Nathan and Priscilla traded looks.
"You're invited too, Blaine." Samuel smiled, drawing the man's attention.
Blaine raised his eyebrows and then waved his hands, shaking his head and looking embarrassed. "Nah, it's cool. You three kids should catch up! It's been like, what, a hundred years?" A dreamy, far-off look suddenly glazed over Blaine's eyes and the next words from his lips sounded somewhat detached. "Besides, I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my girlfriend. Hey Lucy, your case come yet?"
"Yes, Blaine. We'll be ready to go in a minute, so just try and stand still. I'm waiting for the others." A woman-presumably the girlfriend in question-next to Blaine said. Blaine sighed, but kept up a smile anyway.
"That's her. Pretty, ain't she? She's working on this trip too, but... there's gonna be time for the both of us later on. I think..." Blaine said.
"Well if you change your mind, don't hesitate to let me know." Samuel said.
Please, for the love of God, don't. Samuel thought. This is going to murder my wallet as it is.
"Thanks, dude. Sounds like a plan I can get behind." Blaine smiled cheerily. He began hauling the cart carrying their luggage and waved his hand for Samuel to lead the way to his car. "Ready when you are, Samuel!"
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[ September 10th, 2012 | Glasswater High School – Cafeteria | 9:12 AM ]
"Matt. Matt. Matt."
Robin grunted with frustration and lashed out under the table, delivering a solid kick to Matthew's ankle. Matthew recoiled and nearly dropped the sandwich in his hands as he shot Robin a hurt stare. She shrugged and indicated the cell-phone adjacent to his lunch tray.
"Noah hasn't shown up to school and it's been over a week. Ain't you worried?"
"I'm plenty worried." Matthew growled, taking an aggressive bite out of his meal to prove his point. "But if he doesn't want to talk to us then let him. He's taken it the worst out of all of us since… well, you know. Give the guy some space."
"We've been giving him space." Lucia said. "I sympathize with Noah's condition, but don't you think it's about time he returned? We're lucky there hasn't been another… incident in his absence."
"As far as we know." Matthew said. "Who's to say it's not going on while we go to sleep? Or during the day? We don't know everything. Someone could be getting murdered by their Shadow as we speak."
"So what are you sayin'? That we be Shadow Patrol 24/7, no breaks, not even for a quick piss?" Robin simulated a farting noise through her lips. "Yeah, I ain't so sure about that."
"I never said anything likethat." Matthew snapped. "All I'm saying is that we don't know the parameters that dictate when these things happen."
"Well then perhaps it's about time we start figuring out what those parameters are." Lucia said. "Who knows? If we're lucky, these events could be preventable."
"Like that culprit you were goin' on about last week?" Robin said.
"Precisely." Lucia nodded. "We have no control over the who, what, when, where, or why. These things just happen. If we could gain access to that throne room again and spend a little more time inspecting it, then maybe we'd stand a chance in figuring out why this is happening. As it stands, all we can do is wait until another student or whoever falls prey to their Shadow. The only compass we have in all of this nonsense is Tesla's clairvoyance. Her ability to see an individual's 'clock' is the only path finding tool we have. I hate to say it, but much—if not, all—of the responsibility in finding future victims rests almost solely on her shoulders."
"Whaddya' mean hate?"
"She's saying that you need to be paying more attention, Rob." Matthew said. "Take a look around the cafeteria real quick. See any red?"
Robin crossed her arms, indignant. "Hey, I'm paying attention, alright? Real good attention. I know you know all that bullshit my Shadow said before, but that don't mean that it's 100% true. I like helping others. Makin' pals with complete 'n total strangers is kinda' my thing. Y'know, if I could give you my eyes I would, believe me. It ain't exactly sunshine and rainbows wakin' up in the mornin' every day, comin' down stairs, lookin' my ma' in the eye and wonderin' if that clock o' hers is ever gonna' go bad. So yeah, Matt, I've fuckin' been paying attention. Get off my back, alright?"
"Tesla." Lucia pleaded. "Give us the benefit of the doubt."
Robin grunted and swiveled her head around, her gaze passing over the sea of clocks with annoyance. Eventually, she shook her head.
"Nada." She said. "Happy?"
"Delighted." Lucia said. "Now—"
"Robin!" A single voice carried out over the sea of chit-chatter.
Robin turned her head again and—upon recognizing the voice's owner—smiled and waved her hand. "Alice! Long time no see!"
Matthew and Lucia traded looks as Robin's friend wordlessly threw herself into the seat normally occupied by Noah. Robin shot them a look that told them to shut their mouths.
"How've you been, girl? I feel like you've been avoiding me." Alice paused, doubtful. "Wait. You haven't been avoiding me, have you?"
"'Course not." Robin said. "Just been, er… busy."
Here, Alice glanced at Matt and Lucia who were quietly eating. "Busy with what, exactly?"
"Y'know, uh…" Robin's eyes pleaded to Matt and Lucia to bail her out of her impromptu lie. Lucia shrugged helplessly and continued spooning food into her mouth while Matt shot her a bratty look that said 'I thought you told me to shut up?' Robin grinned lopsidedly at Alice and said, "Schoolwork and stuff? Matt's helpin' out with Math and Lucia's, uh… Lucia's there for moral support?"
Alice was much too taken aback to notice Matt and Lucia slap their foreheads with their palms in disbelief. "Are you for real, Robin? If you're going to bullshit a bullshitter at least try to come up with a convincing excuse. Ugh, I don't even care anymore, whatever. Just tell me what's new with you. And why you've been avoiding me!"
The prompt gave Robin pause. It seemed like ages had passed since the last time she had had a normal conversation. Her life—and by extension, the lives of those directly tied to hers—had been a web of mystery and intrigue ever since the appearance of Shadows and Personas and labyrinths. What on earth was she supposed to tell Alice? Their present predicament was so beyond the scope of high school and all of its drama that she was finding it difficult to come up with a valid excuse.
And yet, somehow, one came to her.
"We're… worried." Robin said.
"Worried?"
"Yeah." Robin continued. "Scofield… Noah hasn't shown up in a week."
"Noah…?" A light switched on in Alice's brain and she looked halfway between surprise and mild disgust. "Oh, that kid? What about him? So what if he hasn't shown up in a week? If Glasswater's not exciting enough for him, then why should we care?"
At that, Matthew glanced up, his expression cross.
"Woah, ease up there." Robin said. "The hell did Noah ever do to you?"
"It's not about what Noah did to me." Alice said, shaking her head. "It's about what Noah did to you. Don't you remember?"
"…What, that?"
"Yes, that."
"Holy shit, Alice. It's not a big deal." Robin clutched at her face and sighed. "I keep tellin' you this but it's like you ain't even listening to me. Noah and I are fine. Noah is fine. He's cool, Alice. I don't get it, you gettin' this mad at someone ain't like you. What gives?"
"I just don't trust him," Alice shrugged, "That's all."
"Does Noah look like a serial killer to you or something?" Robin asked. "Because I'm havin' a tough time pinpointin' what exactly it is about him that you think is so untrustworthy."
"Look. Let me put it this way. Everything was going fine. There wasn't any drama. Nothing ever happened in this town, and it was great. We had our fair share of bad apples of course, but doesn't every school? People were happy. And then he showed up." Alice wrinkled her noise in disdain, as if she could smell his scent. "Things were just different. I feel like things are changing. And not in a good way. I mean, look at you and me for example. We used to hang out all the time but I've barely even seen your face in the past two weeks. And for what? For him? I mean, I'm not blaming everything that's happened on the guy but it's just weird, you know? People are acting up. Nathaniel's been showing up more often lately. Griffith's been in a bad mood and that never happens. For God's sake, Robin… Seth died and—"
"Shut up."
Alice did just that and glanced at Matthew who had spoken out of turn. Not quite sure if she heard him right, she leaned closer to him and turned her ear. "Uh… you say something Matt?"
"Yeah, I did." Matthew met her eyes. "I told you to shut up."
"What—"
"I won't just let you talk about Noah—no, my best friend like that." Matthew drew himself up and fixed Alice in place with a stern glare. "All that crap you said just now… you don't know anything. You have no idea what we've been through. What Noah's been through. You're just one more ignorant dumbass, one more stupid opinion that no one asked to hear."
The three girls at the table gawked at him, open-mouthed. It took Alice a moment to process what Matthew had just said to her but when she realized she had just been reprimanded, her cheeks turned a shade of hot pink.
"You… you see what I mean?" She managed. "Things have changed. You never had the balls to stand up for yourself before, Matt."
"Hey!" Robin hissed.
Matthew held out a hand. "I got this Robin." He looked at Alice. "Let's get one thing straight. Those things you mentioned? Noah has nothing to do with any of those. You're kidding yourself if you think he is. Honestly, I don't know what your beef with Noah is, and I don't care to know, but if I know anything it's this. My life's only gone uphill ever since Noah showed up. And I don't have to ask them to know that Robin and Lucia would tell you the exact same thing. I can't change how you feel about him—and I don't expect to, to be honest—but I at least want to make you understand. So, try. And if you can't, then… then you can go straight to hell."
A stiff bit of silence followed suit. To Matt's surprise, Alice was on the brink of tears. She hadn't come to their table to be scolded, let alone humiliated. The fact that her verbal chastisement was coming from Matthew of all people didn't exactly help her either. She turned a watery eye to Robin and said, "Are you going to let him talk to me like that?"
And to Alice's surprise—and dismay—Robin said nothing.
Alice swallowed the lump in her throat, along with her pride.
"You know what? Fine! I get it. I can take a hint. I know when I'm not wanted." Without letting anyone say a word, Alice snatched her bag off of the table and quickly departed, blazing a warpath knocking students to the ground as she dramatically exited the cafeteria.
Robin moved to follow after her but stopped, her eyes widening and her jaw slowly dropping. A quiet 'no' left her lips as Matt and Lucia looked on in concern.
"Tesla," Lucia prompted. "What's the matter?"
"No…" Robin shook her head in denial. "Not her… please, anyone but her…"
They were confused, at first, but Matthew caught on faster than Lucia did.
"Robin… what color was Alice's clock?"
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[ September 10th, 2012 | Glasswater – Grand Avenue | 12:14 PM ]
In one of Catherine's arms was a bundle of assorted plastic bags stuffed to the brim with groceries and materials reserved for the children at her daycare. Her other arm was deep inside of her right pocket as she fished for the keys to the daycare, trying to maintain a balance between the bags in her arm. The children were running wild in the playground. No one seemed to notice her struggling at the gate, and if any of them did they certainly didn't care.
Her nephew Noah sat on one of the benches on the border of the playground, his shoulders sagging and his eyes vacant and downcast. He'd been like this for nearly a week and though he sporadically attended school every now and again—some of those attendances forced by her hand—she still felt bad and wished there was more she could do.
Catherine's cell phone suddenly rang and she muttered a curse as she stopped looking for her keys, instead going for her cell phone. She glanced at the caller ID and grimaced but flipped the phone open anyway and pressed it to her ear. She cast one more worried look at Noah before stepping away from the gate and taking a few steps away from the daycare.
"Hello?" Catherine said.
"Catherine?" Robert's voice came through, loud and clear. "Where are you? I thought you were coming home early today. I need those screws to fix the plumbing."
Catherine knew she had forgotten something. Her silence was sufficient enough an answer.
"...Did you even get the screws?"
"I-I forgot." Catherine blurted, her voice cracking. "Let me run back to the store, I think I can…" She looked back at the daycare and let out a low curse under her breath.
I never found a substitute, Catherine thought, but I don't want Noah to stay here…
"Catherine, what are you doing?" Robert paused and then, in a tone that was as stern as it was impatient, "You never got a substitute, did you? Is Noah watching the kids again?"
Her heart wasn't in it to give him a straight answer. "I just… I didn't mean to…"
"Catherine, Goddamn it!" Robert exploded over the phone and she had to fight not to cry out on reflex. Even over the phone, Robert's rage was frightening. "How the hell can you be so fucking irresponsible? All I asked for was for some fucking screws and you can't even get that right!
On and on did Robert's tirade pour into her ears. She was so stressed by his tantrum that she failed to notice the rugged man quickly approaching. Her shoulder collided with his and—due to his bulky build—she fell backwards, dropping all of the bags in her hands. Groceries and household essentials rolled this way and that across the sidewalk and onto the street. Catherine sat there in a daze as the man in front of her immediately threw himself onto the pavement, apparently willing to risk collision with an oncoming vehicle for a single apple.
Luckily for all involved, the car stopped first. The man rapped his knuckles on the hood of the car with a broad smile, apparently ignorant of the seething rage of the driver behind the wheel. Rubber peeled on pavement as the car tore a half-circle around the man who was now making his way over to Catherine, that dumb smile still spread like butter across his lips.
"I'm really sorry about that, ma'am." The man began, stooping to pick up several more items off of the ground. "Didn't you see me coming? I didn't think you'd just keep walking! Don't worry about it, it's not the first time. Usually the other person tries to punch my face in though..."
Normally a human being would respond in kind to the man, maybe with a 'thank you' or a 'it's my fault, I'm sorry for not paying attention.' A nauseating combination of fear and instinct, however, forced Catherine's hand into scooping her cell phone off of the floor, Robert's voice still blaring from the speaker.
"H-Hello?" Catherine said meekly. She averted her eyes away from the man who was watching her curiously, his movements slowed. "I'm here… I'm sorry."
"What the hell was that?" Robert fumed.
"I-I bumped into someone." Catherine mumbled apologetically—and not even to the man she had made physical contact with in the first place. "I dropped some of the groceries."
A pause, and then Robert scolded, "Pay attention to your surroundings! It's your own fault! How clumsy can you get?"
"Scuse me, ma'am..." The man spoke gently, but with thoughtful concern, "Something wrong?"
Robert bellowed into her ear but Catherine's focus was on the man now. She bit her lip and said, "I'm sorry. I… I'll pay more attention next time, okay?" Catherine didn't know who she was talking to that time: Robert, or the mysterious man on one knee in front of her.
"I don't mind!" The man smiled. "Let me get some—"
"You better pay more attention next time." Robert muttered through the phone darkly. "Or so help me God, Catherine."
Catherine opened her mouth to make another timid reply before—without so much as a word of warning—the man bent over her and plucked the phone from her hands. He gave it an interested look as Robert's rumbling voice dripped like poison through the speakers before pressing it to his ear. The man nodded as he listened, making exaggerated faces every now and again.
After a few minutes, the man shut the phone.
Catherine gaped at him open-mouthed.
"Hey...mind if I give you some advice?" The man delicately handed Catherine her phone back before raising his index finger and continuing, "You should never let a guy bitch at you like that. Ever. No girl needs to be treated like that."
When Catherine was done gawking at the man, she said, "I'm sorry. Who are you?"
"Who am… oh yeah! Crap, I forgot to introduce myself." He drew himself up to his impressively full height and jabbed a thumb at his broad chest. "Name's Blaine Spencer! Born and raised in Kanaloa, and a proud citizen of New Motus city!" Blaine extended a hand to help Catherine up from the ground she was still sitting on. "And what's your name, madam?"
"…Catherine." Catherine answered hesitantly. She still took Blaine's hand and let him help her up to her feet. He flashed her another bright smile before bending down to the ground and finishing what he had started, picking up the remaining objects scattered from the bags. When he was finished, he kept the bags in hand.
"So, where are we taking these bags to, hm?" He gazed through the fence at the children playing in the yard and chuckled to himself. "Aww...those are cute kids, aren't they? It kinda reminds me of when I was a little rascal."
What is this man, this… Blaine trying to accomplish? Catherine wondered. Such an odd character.
"Inside." Catherine said, indicating the yard. "I guess you can help me carry these bags the rest of the way."
"Huh?" Blaine looked incredulous, but impressed at the same time. "Oh, you work here? At this daycare?" The way he was eyeing her now made it look as if he was seeing her in some new found light. "That's pretty cool!" He hoisted the bags up and followed in Catherine's footsteps as she unlocked the gate and opened the metal door.
"Noah, honey?" Catherine called. Her nephew slowly lifted his head and stared at her as she entered the daycare with Blaine in tow. "You can go home now, dear. I'll take it from here." Noah nodded and stood up from the bench, glancing at Blaine curiously. As he approached, Catherine took him by the shoulder and handed him a bit of cash. "I'm sorry about this but could you buy some screws on your way home tonight? Robert's going to fix the plumbing and I forgot."
He nodded again and accepted the cash. Noah made his way over to the door, but not before giving Blaine another look over his shoulder before he stepped through and closed the gate behind him, disappearing from view within minutes.
"Alright, Blaine." Catherine sighed, wading her way through the children as they amassed around her waist like moths to a flame. "Into the center before the kids eat you whole."
"I'd like to see them try!" Blaine laughed. "I'm a tough old bas... uh... I mean, nothin' I can't handle."
Catherine smiled faintly at that as she opened the door to the building. A girl with long brown hair, however, tugged on Blaine's coat before he could follow. He peered down at the girl through the gap in his arms and grinned.
"What's your name?" Blaine asked.
"Gwendolyn." The little girl answered. She was dragging a stuffed whale that was nearly as large as she was. "How come you're so big mister?"
Blaine laughed and answered, "I'm a tall dude, aren't I? That's just part of who I am! But I eat my greens, drink my milk... you know, the stuff your parents tell you to do. Oh, and my name is Blaine."
Silently, Catherine watched from the doorway, arms folded. The man had a way with children, she had to admit. The tried-and-true school of thought that looks could be deceiving was in full-effect since she never would have guessed the man with his fingers through her shopping bags could hold a conversation with anyone below the age of 18, but there he was proving her wrong with every other syllable that escaped his lips and through Gwendolyn's ears.
"Really? I never met anyone called a Blaine before!" Gwendolyn said in awe, the inflection in her voice betraying the innocence of her youth. "That's a cool name! So why are you here, Mr. Blaine?"
"Ah, well you see these groceries?" Blaine indicated the armfuls of bags in his arms. "I'm helping that nice lady! It's always nice to help people out when they're in trouble. If someone's having a bad day, just offering to give them a hand can make them feel a lot better, hehe! Actually, Gwen, I'm here on vacation. I have a girlfriend here who's a journalist. She writes things down so she can put them in magazines! She's working right now, so I'm hanging around here!"
"Is a girlfriend like a mommy?" Gwendolyn asked. "Is she pretty? Is she as big as you? Where are you from, Mr.?"
"You sure like to ask questions! You'll do well in school, I bet. A girlfriend is just... when a boy has a girl he really likes and she likes him. To her, I'm a boyfriend. Your parents were boyfriends and girlfriends once, then they got married and had you! And yes, my Lucy is really pretty. She's got brown hair, a little like yours, and green eyes. Green like a forest. Shame you can't see her. And she's a grown lady, but I'm taller than her. Guys don't get much taller than me, hehe. And me and my Lucy are from a place called New Motus City! It's a really big place, filled with lots of people and tall buildings! You'd like it there, I bet. Maybe your parents will go there on vacation if you ask them!"
For whatever reason, Gwendolyn's eyes were downcast. She looked up at him and said, "So you're not going to work here, Mr.? I wanna hear more about this city! Is it bigger than here?"
Time was short, and although Catherine would like nothing more than for the man in her daycare to keep her children company, she had things she needed to get done.
"Blaine!" Catherine called. "If you wouldn't mind…"
"Sorry, I'm coming. It was nice to meet you, Gwen. Nice whale, by the way!" Blaine shrugged at Gwendolyn helplessly before making his way through the door and setting the armloads of groceries down on one of the tables. He gazed about the room at all the arts and crafts, the half-eaten snacks, the sleeping mats, and at the strewn bits of trash scattered all across the floor. There was a mysterious smile on his lips as he looked at all of the staples of Catherine's daycare and she wondered, briefly, what he might be thinking about.
"I appreciate your help." Catherine said brusquely. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave, Blaine." She wasn't trying to be rude but letting Blaine into her daycare in the first place had been a mistake in and of itself. Regardless of how much she felt she could trust the man, regardless of how gratifying it had felt to have him shut the phone on Robert, regardless of how much she wanted to sit down with him and have a heart-to-heart, because she knew he would understand, regardless of how much she knew he would be a hit with the children…
"Oh. That's okay. I was just thinking about how cool it must be to work here. Those are some cute kids. And I really dig Gwen's whale toy! We never had those in my day. We had to make do with patchwork teddy bears." Blaine smiled, one without even a drop of cynicism. Somehow that hurt even more than it would have if he had shown offense to her blunt invitation to leave. "I'll be off. Can I ask you something before I go?"
"If you'd like."
"Why are you bothering with that prick?" His charming demeanor had faded somewhat, in an effort to strive for something more appropriate for the subject matter she knew he was aiming for. "I've got a girl myself and I'd never treat her that way. If I did, she'd wipe the floor with me!" He paused, as if thinking of someone. "If I saw someone who did that, well, they'd get to know what it feels like. But for him, it'd be worse. Ten times worse."
He had a point. She knew he was absolutely, one-hundred percent right.
"…In spite of all of his flaws," Catherine murmured, "At heart, I know he is good. I still love him and I'm willing to endure this much, if only to catch a glimpse of the man I fell in love with. You say unhealthy." She smiled sadly. "I say optimistic."
"Oh. If you say so..." Blaine dipped his head. "I guess if you believe in him, I do too. I just hope he changes. You're a really kind woman, you know that? For your sake, he should realize that." He flashed another one of those damn smiles and turned to leave.
"It was… a pleasure to meet you, Blaine." Catherine offered. "I do sincerely hope we meet again."
"Same here, Cath!" Blaine chirped.
He was gone far sooner than Catherine would have liked. A fact she was sorely uncomfortable with.
[] [] []
[ September 10th, 2012 | Tartarus | 7:09 PM ]
What am I doing?
Samuel sat at one of the tables in Tartarus, alone and waiting for Nathan and Priscilla to show. Once he had dropped them off at Nocturne Heights, he had given them the address to Tartarus as well as his cell phone number in case Nathan had to cancel. As far as he could tell, they were still set to have dinner together at seven. As much as he was tempted to, calling it quits now and cancelling the whole thing was out of the question.
He was dressed in the best clothes he had: a weathered black suit, slacks, and tie combo. Normally he wore these clothes to formal functions hosted by the school or whenever he went to staff parties, but today was special. Samuel peered down at his scuffed dress shoes and shoved them under the low-hanging tablecloth.
"Mr. Lovelace?" Samuel looked up as one of the waiters approached his table with Nathan and Priscilla in tow, the pair holding hands and smiling. "Mr. Albion and Ms. Lancaster have arrived. Another waiter will be with you shortly." The waiter bowed stiffly. "I sincerely hope you enjoy your stay here."
Samuel stared after the waiter and when he was out of sight, Samuel smiled. "Sit down! Did you two have trouble finding the place?"
"Not at all!" Nathan replied, pulling back one of the chairs for Priscilla. "We took a cab here so it was no trouble."
"How are things over there in New Motus?" Samuel asked as Nathan walked around and took his seat. "I'm afraid I'm not even sure what you do anymore, haha! It's been way too long."
"Indeed it has." Nathan agreed, returning the smile. "Things have been going splendidly. After all, I'm working under my father at our family's company. You'll remember it, I told you about it plenty of times."
"Albion Incorporated, right?"
"Correct." Nathan nodded. "Things have been going very well for us. And as you know, it's the whole reason I'm here right now. It's only for a few days but this is a crucial meeting and they needed a key representative, and who better than the son of the CEO? As for my friends, they're out and about enjoying themselves. Not that I'm not, of course."
"…Hey, I don't mean to offend you or your friends or anything," Samuel began, "But… that Blaine fellow that was with you earlier? Is he like, a bodyguard you hired or something?"
"My... bodyguard…? Blaine" Nathan mulled the thought over in his head and suddenly laughed, much to Samuel and Priscilla's surprise. He wiped a tear away, still chuckling as he said, "No, no no! I wasn't kidding! He's just a really good friend. That's all it is. I don't blame you for thinking otherwise, however. We certainly come from different walks of life."
"You've changed man." Samuel said, resting his chin on his knuckle.
"Indeed I have." Nathan nodded slowly, as if just now coming to terms with that fact. "Years ago, I would have dismissed Blaine as an arrogant womanizing thug, and had nothing to do with him. But now I know you can find friends in really unusual places. Let's just say... there aren't many people in the world I can truly count on, but he's one of them."
"Damn." Samuel said, impressed. "I wish we could hop in a DeLorean and go 88 on the freeway. If only the guy who attended my graduation could see the man in front of me now. Unreal."
"I'm just as surprised myself!" Priscilla said, smiling as Nathan looked at her sheepishly. "I found out about their friendship sometime later, and I couldn't believe someone from Kanaloa would be welcome in Nathan's social circle. But I've seen for myself what a good man Blaine is. And not just him, but the other friends Nathan has made lately. They've all changed him - for the better."
"You know, darling, I think that's true.." Nathan nodded. "Blaine, Amara, Serena, Zao... There are a lot of unexpected friends in my life lately. People I would never had thought I'd spend more than ten seconds talking to. But... they're good friends, all of them. Deep down, they're amazing people I wouldn't trade any of them for the world!" He laughed, and said, "Except for Priscilla, perhaps."
"Wish I could meet these people for myself." Samuel said. "They sound like a lot of fun to be around."
"They certainly are. Amara's always showing me her paintings, and Serena's always telling me about the books or 'anime' she's been looking into. Zao's a fish crazy dork, but we love him anyway. Blaine... well, he knows how to have a good time out on the town. He showed me that himself not long ago...but that's enough about me." Nathan waved his hand. "You told us you're working as a school counselor, so how is that working out for you? I imagine working with kids, especially at that age, can be tough."
The man before him certainly wasn't the man Samuel graduated with, and it only became more apparent as time passed on.
"It has its ups and downs," Samuel answered, "but for the most part I enjoy it."
Nathan nodded knowingly. "Actually, now that I think about it, Serena would be the age of the students at your school. An imaginative girl, she is. She's began writing a book about people wielding Personas fighting Shadows!"
Personas fighting Shadows...? Samuel thought. What an odd concept.
"She's a nice girl," Nathan continued, "Despite her family issues. I'm certain she's head over heels for her best friend, Kyle." Nathan shook his head with a sigh. "Seeing them together brings back memories of when me and Priscilla were together at that age... but they won't admit it. He's a shy and quiet boy, that Kyle, but she's just as bad!"
Samuel laughed heartily at that. "Haha! Kids these days… when will they learn?"
"Speaking of kids," Priscilla said, "What kind of kids do you work with?"
"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary." Samuel shrugged. "Kids who need a confidence boost… kids who need an ego check… kids with too many questions… kids with too few questions… kids with neglectful parents… kids who are scared of college… kids who are lost that need direction… kids who think they know it all… if there's one thing I can say about my job it's never boring." He smiled. "One of my kids, Matthew? All three years he's been the quietest kid I've ever seen in my life and he's just now starting to make a turn-around. There's another one, Robin… she's a handful but her hearts in the right place. And then there's—"
Samuel stopped talking then, his features slowly growing dark. Nathan and Priscilla traded looks.
"Did… something happen with one of your students?" Priscilla pressed.
Samuel swirled the water in his glass as he stared into the fire of the candle in the center of the table. "About a week ago, one of our students—Seth Killian—was found dead in his apartment. The exact cause of death was never ascertained but evidence points to usage of illegal substances as the most likely suspect." He laughed bitterly, trying to ignore the looks of shock on Nathan and Priscilla's faces. Samuel continued, in a softer voice, "He was one of the brightest and smartest students in his class. He got along well with all of the other students. Everyone in the faculty was willing to write him a letter of recommendation."
"How…" Nathan began, struggling to find the right words, struggling to comprehend, "How did no one know about this? Wouldn't a student who's been using drugs have been discovered by authorities earlier? One of the teachers should have noticed by now..."
"You got me." Samuel sighed. "He must've been using them sporadically. Either way, it doesn't matter anymore. He's dead and there's no changing that." He took the glass of water on the table and gulped it down. "Christ. I shouldn't have brought that up, I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine." Nathan nodded. "You needed to get it off your chest."
"Um…" Priscilla hummed, eager to change the subject, "Do you… have any troublemakers?"
"Not as many as you'd think." Samuel said. "Every school has their fair share of bad apples, after all." He considered Nathan's question a little harder and said, "But now that I think about it… there is one student in particular that comes to mind. He even has your name! Except he's, uh, the complete opposite of you. In every way possible."
"Really?" Nathan said, wide-eyed. "What makes him such a problematic student?"
"For one, he never comes to school," Samuel held out his hand, sticking a finger out for every point he was about to make. "And when he does, it's only to harass other students. He has a nasty temper, he never submits to authority… you get the point.
"He sounds… unpleasant." Nathan said with a coy smirk.
"I agree. Perhaps he could stand to learn how a Nathan should truly behave!" Priscilla commented, tilting her head at Nathan. Nathan smiled at his fiancée and leaned in, drawing a passionate, prolonged kiss from her lips. Samuel watched them longer than he should have, smiling awkwardly and feeling thoroughly uncomfortable. He averted his gaze, drumming his fingers on the tabletop.
"Perhaps all this Nathan needs is a beautiful woman." Nathan murmured, gazing into Priscilla's eyes and the ring on her forefinger as he caressed her hand. He stopped himself and frowned slightly. "Well... it helps if she's beautiful, but as long as she loves him, that's good too! Right?"
"Relax, sweetheart! We know what you meant." Priscilla said, stifling a laugh.
Still smiling, Nathan turned his attention back to Samuel. "Forgive us, we've recently been engaged." Nathan apologized, unable to resist another tender glance at Priscilla. He looked at Samuel curiously and asked, "What about you, my old friend? Is there anyone in your life right now who you cherish?"
Rub it in why don't you…? Samuel thought to himself angrily. He caught himself before he could carry the thought any further, violently shaking his head. What the… what the hell are you doing, Sam? You didn't come here to lick old wounds and dwell on regrets! You came here to reconnect! Focus, damn it! Nathan deserves better!
But no matter how hard he tried, it was impossible to ignore the real, intense love Nathan had for Priscilla and vice versa. He only had to look at the way they looked at each other.
In spite of himself, dozens of faces of dozens of girls flashed through Samuel's mind. Some of them brought back warm, tender memories that made him wish he could leap into a time machine and never look back. Others brought back dark, bitter, repressed memories that made him feel irritable and—perhaps more tragically—lonely.
"I'm… afraid I don't." Samuel answered curtly.
Nathan smiled sympathetically. He was so unguarded and honest that it made Samuel hate himself even more. Is that was he was missing? Is that all he needed to do?
"That's a shame. I always thought you'd make a woman happy... but it's not too late. We're all still young!" Nathan said enthusiastically. "I'm sure, soon enough, you'll find someone you love."
"Exactly. If you put so much effort into becoming a counselor, you're bound to come across someone special." Priscilla added, smiling. She reached across the table and interlaced her fingers through Nathan's. "And someone who takes up that sort of job at a high school must have a big heart, with a lot of empathy. Even when we were studying, I knew you had true kindness within you. No wonder you're helping so many young people find their way through life. I'm positive that you'll find someone who appreciates how hard you work for others!"
Samuel had to force his eyes off of their interlocked hands as he smiled gratefully at the two of them, although his heart sang a decidedly different tune. "…Thanks, guys. That means a lot coming from the two of you. I can only hope that the girl I find will love me as much as you two love each other."
Lying to their faces made him want to puke. But he kept a believable front up and he took Nathan's grin as a sign that they believed him.
And he knew Nathan did, because the next thing he said made his heart plummet.
"Actually... this is rather sudden, considering we just told you, but... I'd be honoured to invite you to attend our wedding." Nathan said gently. "We still haven't decided upon a date, but once we have, I'm sure the both of us would love to see you witness our nuptials."
The hope in Nathan's eyes was like a dagger in Samuel's chest.
Why the hell do you have to be so Goddamn honest?
Samuel couldn't say no…
…But he also couldn't say yes.
"I'll… I'll think about it." Samuel offered a shaky smile. "It depends on when you set the date but I'll try my hardest to be there. You have my number so whenever it's coming, feel free to call in advance."
As the waiter approached their table with menus in hand, Samuel knew that coming here and inviting them out to dinner had been a grave mistake. Nonetheless, he forced himself to stay congenial and happy… if not for himself, then for Nathan and Priscilla.
The two young lovers, he felt, deserved that and much, much more.
[] [] []
[ September 10th, 2012 | Lower Districts | 11:24 PM ]
It was a cold night in Glasswater Park. The weather had been chilly ever since the month started, natural given the time of the year and the location of the town itself. Most people at this time of night were indoors with their blankets wrapped around their bodies or their heaters turned up to warmer temperatures. If not that, those that were still outside were at least bundled in thick, large coats and jackets coupled with the optional scarf or headgear.
Not Nathaniel Blackwater, though, dressed in his usual: tattered jeans, thin hoodie, and striped black and yellow beanie. There was an assortment of other strangers scattered across the park, most of them shady and suspicious. He bounced the basketball in his hand once, lining up a three-point shot with the hoop. Four seconds later, his ball bounced off of the rim and landed in a bush on the edges of the court.
Nathaniel let out a low curse under his breath and went to fetch it. He wondered where David and Monica were as the three of them had planned to meet up at eleven and hang out for an hour. David tended to be late more often than not but Monica prided herself on her punctuality, so her absence nearly fifteen minutes past the meeting time struck Nathaniel as a little odd. Still, he didn't let himself think too hard about it. The three of them were hardly what anyone would call responsible and none of them had any delusions about that fact.
Shoving the ball beneath the sling of his arm, Nathaniel dug out his wallet from his back pocket and counted out enough change to purchase a can of soda from the vending machines at the public restrooms nearby. Suddenly, the phone in his pocket rang, causing Nathaniel to drop both the ball and his wallet. Coins went rolling left and right as he cursed, in a much louder voice, "Goddamn it!" Nathaniel grabbed his phone and opened the text.
gonna be late, need to finish essay. sorry! – Monica.
dropped money cuz of u. Nathaniel quickly tapped out the reply and ignored any replies he received, stooping low to scrape quarters and dimes off of the cement before some voices further off in the distance grabbed his attention. He looked up and saw two people entering the park: a blonde girl accompanying a wheelchair-bound male on the sidewalk.
For whatever reason, Nathaniel knew right off the bat that these two weren't from Glasswater. Their clothes didn't look like anything someone would find in the stores in town and something about them just screamed 'tourist'. Maybe it was the way they looked, or maybe it was the way they were looking at a swing set like it was a piece in a modern art exhibit.
Nathaniel watched them approach his position, a dark smile spreading across his face.
Wrong time, wrong place, wrong neighborhood… you name it. Nathaniel wasn't in a good mood and that only meant bad news for the unsuspecting pair that had just walked into Glasswater Park at eleven at night. To be fair, Nathaniel was never in a good mood, but without David and Monica to reign his antics in he was free to do as he pleased and right then, right there, he was going to do just that.
"Um…" The kid in the wheelchair stammered nervously, his eyes darting left and right. "Should we really be here?"
"What's the problem? We're just exploring the place. It's not Kanaloa, is it?" The blonde girl said cheerily, as if there was nothing wrong with being out this late in an unfamiliar town. Nathaniel saw her eyes fix themselves onto him and she said, "Besides, Kyle, there's a guy our age over there. How dangerous can it be?"
"Yeah, but… people are age can be scary as well. Even at our school. Besides, you remember what Mrs. Barrs said, right? We're in the Lower Districts!" The boy practically shrieked the last part out. Nathaniel had to bite his knuckle to stop himself from laughing out loud. "This place is just full of scum! Guys who only know how to beat each other up to get what they want! C'mon, let's just get out of here!"
Too damn late. Nathaniel thought with a smirk. Time to have a little fun.
Nathaniel made sure his footsteps were loud to announce his arrival as he stepped out of the light of the lamppost and walked towards them, one arm around his basketball and the other shoved into the pocket of his jacket. The one in the wheelchair was on high alert, his eyes watching Nathaniel's every move. The girl also eyed him with visible suspicion, but she also seemed less fearful.
"You kids look lost." Nathaniel grinned, bouncing the basketball up and down once he was within earshot.
"Um, we're fine, thanks! We were just about to leave!" The blonde girl said with a nervous smile. She turned to leave, grabbing the handle to the boy's wheelchair, but some of the shady-looking individuals were lounging around the sidewalk exit path. The girl hesitated, giving Nathaniel just enough time to close the gap between them even more, bouncing the basketball with every step he took.
"You were just gonna' leave without even giving me your names?" Nathaniel pouted. "C'mon. Here, I'll start. My name's Nathaniel. Your turn!"
The two exchanged wary looks, but they eventually decided to go along with Nathaniel's whims.
"Serena Agnethe." The blonde girl stated curtly.
"K-Kyle McHale." The wheelchair-bound student stuttered. The glasses on his face were beginning to dip low, the sweat on his brow shining beneath the light of the lampposts overhead.
"See, that wasn't so hard, right?" Nathaniel smiled good-naturedly. "I've noticed you guys are out pretty late. You need directions back to your hotel or something? I can tell you're not from around here… actually, where are you guys from anyway? West coast? Midwest?"
"We're from New Motus." Serena said.
"New Motus, huh?" Nathaniel rubbed his chin. "Never heard of it. Sounds like a great place. Wish I could visit. Maybe I will one day. You guys could show me around." He paused mid-sentence, studying their tense expressions with faint amsement. "And what's with the cold stares, guys? Lighten up a little! We're just talking, right?"
"Sorry, um... Nathaniel. Right now we'd like directions to our hotel." Serena said. "We don't want any trouble."
"Directions? You want directions?" Nathaniel made a contemplative face before nodding. "Sure, I think I could do that. I know Glasswater like the back of my hand. So, where to?"
"Didn't she just tell you? We want to go back to our hotel—"
Nathaniel suddenly slammed his ball against the concrete, interrupting Serena and startling her and Kyle out of their wits. "I've changed my mind." Nathaniel muttered, his feigned amiability disappearing at the drop of a hat. "Let's play some basketball while you two are here. One on two? Two on one?" He smiled again, but this one was unfriendly and derisive. "If you win, I'll tell you how to get back to whatever hotel you crawled out of."
"That's not fair, Kyle's in a wheelchair." Serena pointed out. "And I already told you that all we want is to go back to our hotel."
"Yeah? And I want to play some basketball." Nathaniel said, rolling his eyes. "And who said paraplegics couldn't play sports? I bet Kyle's got a mean dunking arm." Kyle looked down at his legs, genuinely hurt by Nathaniel's mockery of his impaired mobility. The comment struck a nerve with Serena, who balled up her fists and marched forward.
"But... I didn't choose to be born this way…" Kyle whispered sadly
"You leave him alone!" Serena snarled, stepping out from behind Kyle's wheelchair and positioning herself between him and Nathaniel. Her voice nearly rose to a shout as she added, "I've fought way scarier guys than you before! Compared to them, you're just a bully!" Other vagabonds in the vicinity were starting to look their way, but Nathaniel ignored them.
What's with this bitch? Nathaniel thought, annoyed.
"You know, you remind me of another pair of twats I know." Nathaniel frowned, moving even closer to them. Serena stood her ground, determined. "You're like a less annoying version of Robin…" He nodded to Kyle. "And you're like a handicapped version of Matthew. You should all get together and fuck each other's brains out, you're all so fucking perfect for each other."
"What's your problem?" Serena said angrily. "Why are you doing this to us?"
"That's the million dollar question, isn't it?" Nathaniel said. "Maybe today just isn't your lucky day, huh?" He began to advance on Serena who—while still admirably defiant as Nathaniel cracked every one of his knuckles—stepped back. There was a glint of cruelty in Nathaniel's eyes that set her on edge and for the first time since they met, the wall of bravery she had erected around herself and Matthew cracked. "Maybe you wandered into the wrong part of town at the wrong time? Who knows? But you made a mistake when you—"
"Nathaniel!" A voice called out, interrupting Nathaniel out of his bullying. Serena looked over her shoulder to see a girl improperly dressed for the cold stomping up the twisty sidewalk towards the three of them. Accompanying her was David who looked just as disapproving as she did. "You mind telling me what the fuck you're doing to these people?"
"Monica? David?" Nathaniel frowned. "I thought you had an essay…?"
"Yo, don't try to change the subject." David interrupted. He nodded to Serena and Kyle. "The hell are you two doing out so late? It's dangerous here."
"We were trying to leave," Serena began, "But that guy—"
"Fuck you!" Nathaniel scoffed.
"Nathaniel." Monica interjected, exasperated. She walked around Kyle and Serena, laying a reassuring hand on both of their shoulders as she passed. When she was in front of him, she folded her arms and glared up at him expectantly. "Weren't you going to play basketball with David or something? I don't exactly remember 'terrorizing tourists' on the agenda."
"Yeah, with those guys." Nathaniel said, pointing a finger over her at Serena and Kyle. They stared daggers at him, eliciting a smile. "What? I just wanted to play a game, get to know them a little better. What's the big deal?"
"I'll tell you what the big deal is, you fucking jerk! You threatened to withhold directions if we lost!" Serena cried. "And you were going to beat us up too! You were cracking your knuckles and everything!"
"Dude." David sighed, shaking his head. "The guy's in a wheelchair."
"I wasn't gonna' do anything!" Nathaniel yelled in indignation.
"Wish I could believe you bro, but if you're gonna' pick fights, pick fights with people that can walk." David went to Serena and Kyle. "Sorry about him, he's been on edge lately. Monica'll take you back." He passed them and laid his hand on Nathaniel's shoulder, turning him around and maneuvering the both of them towards the hoops at the basketball court. Monica watched the two of them go with a sullen look on her face before she turned to Serena and Kyle with an apologetic smile.
"You guys are okay, right?"
"We're fine… I think." Kyle smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"That's good. David did it for us already I guess, but sorry about ol' Nate back there." Monica put a hand on her hip and sighed. "He's an asshole… but… he's our asshole. I won't bore you with the details, it's a long story. So, where're you lovebirds headed?"
Both Serena and Kyle's cheeks flushed red.
"We're not—!" The two of them protested in unison.
"Ah…" Monica hummed with a faint smile. "I gotcha'. Well then, let's get you two back home then, shall we?"
[Social Links:]
Fool (The Team): 4
Magician (Matthew): 3
Justice (Robin): 3
Emperor (Griffith): 2
Priestess (Lucia): 4
Strength (Alice): 0
Sun (Grace): 1
Devil (Nathaniel): 2
Moon (David): 2
Hermit (Monica): 2
Lovers (Maria): 1
Hanged Man (Christopher): 1
Tower (Seth): Deceased
Chariot (Arthur + Amber): 1
Temperance (Catherine + Robert): 4 + 1 = 5
Hierophant (Samuel): 1
Empress (Faith): 1
Death (Gwendolyn): 2