Night Talks: Chapter 2
Ihate54: Since I've chosen to continue this story, morphing powers will now be present. Mhm. But as for Rachel's persona…I'm not entirely sure how she acts or her characteristic attributes. Aside from the fashionista & 'Xena Warrior Princess' deal…I'm not sure. So, if she's misguided any further, please correct me. Thanks a lot!
Oh yeah and…Rachel does not know the rest of the group; Cassie, Marco, Ax. She does know Jake however (being he is her cousin), but they aren't close…yet.
Other then that, thanks to all other lovely reviewers & enjoy!
-:-
"Within the laws of covalent bonding, the two electrons thus shared between the two atoms are attracted to the nucleus core of both said atoms…"
It was an ardent attempt to at least try to absorb half the drabble concerning the vapid marvels of chemical reactions that Ms. Aldred, a corpulent middle-aged woman with a disheveled chignon of fading fire-red hair, seemed to drone on about.
But intellectual advancement was promptly placed into the back seat as the impending tryst with a certain fellow that had been a key factor to the unpleasant darkening bags beneath her pretty liquid blue eyes began to surface her mind, for the thousandth time in the day.
Due to the district teacher conference that was scheduled later that evening, the entire school was permitted a half hour early dismissal at 1:30. It would give her just enough time to freshen up in the ladies powder room before heading to the mall.
She had prepared for all other variable factors that could easily overthrow her plan; having told mother before hand, bringing an umbrella for sudden rain and even a change of cloths if the said rain were to catch her unguarded. Yes, she was more then aptly prepared.
She hadn't known why she was so erratic about the date; it wasn't as if it were her first. But looming trepidation besieged her as if it was.
The treble trill of the dismissal bell promptly wrenched Rachel Berenson out from her inner musings.
A flurry of activity moved about the seventeen-year-old, eager students grappling their belongings and hurrying out the door; ignoring Ms. Aldred's fruitless efforts at trying to input the final lines of an ionic compound definition.
Rachel beamed like that of a child entering a candy store, hastily tossing her own books into the expensive Dior satchel thrown about her shoulders. She didn't really mind the severe damage she was doing unto the material, despite the hefty price tag of eight hundred dollars that should have made her.
She'd finally get to see Tobias and that's all that mattered.
-:-
After quickly applying another thin film of gloss across her lips and giving her hair a good brushing; Rachel hurriedly stepped out into the mid-afternoon sunlight. She took a deep intake of the fresh evening air as she made her way down the immaculately clean cement side-walks, a neatly folded mound of leather clung tightly to her chest.
Sewing certainly wasn't her forte, the several pricks on her pointer finger serving as good evidence to the statement, but she had done the deed none the less. She wasn't going to let some brief moments of pain deter her from fixing the jacket, one that Tobias found favor in.
And if he found favor in it, she would too.
Though not to say this was all done entirely for her new companion, the challenge of appending the torn extremity oddly enjoyable to the female, almost as if a battle between her and garment. She was going to get that jacket back together and it was going to be perfect.
The seventeen-year-old hastened her pace as she came into clear view of the mall's resident food cafeteria, the familiar aroma of simmering Chinese vegetables mingled with frizzling frying oil snagging her nose.
She ignored the sudden rumble of hunger that scrambled from her belly, glancing about frantically for the lemon-yellow painted cart that was Tony's Taco Stand. It hadn't taken all too long, a blaring blood red sign with vibrant neon green lettering.
More importantly was the male standing before the attention-grabbing sign, looking around himself from side to side every so and then.
Aside from his top, a long-sleeved button-up shirt of deep midnight blue, his outfit was no different. He still donned those faintly worn black boots and slightly baggy black jeans, hands jammed in the pockets of the said pants.
And then, almost as if feeling her intent stare, his gaze lifted up towards her direction. She smiled.
-:-
He couldn't explain it really…just some strange urge that told him to look up. He was a bit stunned to find Rachel standing a few feet beyond him, peering at him with a critical eye. He nearly blushed under the scrutiny.
Then, he found himself blushing for an entirely new reason.
Having spent most of his time talking to her from her window sill, he hadn't really seen anything beyond the upper-half of her torso. And even earlier that morning, it had been far too dark and too nerve-soaked to even see what she appeared full bodied. But now he definitely could see.
Definitely.
She wore a pleasantly snug jean skirt, made of blue denim material with its hem just falling to mid thigh. A pastel pink shirt with strap like sleeves, one constantly slipping off her shoulder, encased her upper half life a second skin; partially hidden by the short-sleeved, slightly gauzy white button-up shirt worn over that, left unbuttoned.
He had seen many girls in those kinds of outfits, which wasn't necessarily a good thing. Those kind of girls were generally…friendly, to say the least. He avoided them with a passion, well, they avoided him with a passion and no where in heavens would he have imagined him talking to one of them.
Let alone taking them out for dinner.
But this was strangely different…something told him that she was different, despite the immaculate air of perfection that exuded her every pore. There was more too her. A lot more.
"Well, I suppose we should get away from the taco stand before we start smelling like the enchilada combo."
Tobias blinked, a little confused at the remark, before finally recalling his bearings and current situation. Just as he began to gather his proper wits, he found them all at once scattered once more, seeing Rachel far closer to him then assumed. Too close.
She stood in front of him, arms extended forward expectantly with a familiar garment of heavy black leather in her grasp. She stared up at him, smiling, every so and then pushing her arms up for him to take the jacket.
He wordlessly obliged to her silent pleas, lifting the worn piece of clothing with one hand before spreading it out fully with his other. It looked better then before, gleaming with a polished surface like that of a new jacket all together, the left arm sleeve sewn back into the socket.
Tobias then shifted his gaze towards the blonde in front of him, expression indifferent before the tiniest smile pulled the corner of his lips, so shy and diminutive it was almost impossible to see.
"Thank you." His response was simple and short yet filled with such gratitude, as if it were the first kind deed the boy had ever experienced. Rachel felt her belly twist.
"Well, where would you like to go?" She suddenly inquired, absently hooking her arm with his and beginning to tug him along the heavily crowded pathways of the mall.
He only shrugged in reply, running his free hand through his messy mop of inky black. He was suddenly jerked to a stop as a rather irate looking Rachel stepped up right before him, as dangerously close as she always tended to do, with a flicker of deadly flame housing her crystal blue orbs and her curled fists perched on her hips.
"Well Mr. Tobias Fangor," She announced in a firm tone, though the twinkle of mischief in her eyes said other wise.
"I'm well aware of what stores I like. I want to know what stores interest you."
Speechless, to say the least; the sable-haired eighteen-year-old could do little more then stare at her, wide-eyed and a bit taken aback. He knew well enough that Rachel was a fierce woman and that when she had her heart set on something; it was going to be accomplished, even without the consent of other parties.
"Jeffer's Pet Palace." He suddenly blurted out with no real consideration to his words and face burning instantly at realization at what he'd done.
Yes, it certainly was a manly notion to bring a girl to the pet shop. Yes, indeed.
Rachel felt her coyly demanding expression melt at the statement; half smirk softening into a tender smile. He had a soft spot for animals. The wider she smiled, the more tense Tobias grew. She only shook her head, ignoring his sudden queer behavior as she relatched her arm to his, lacing her fingers in the spaces between his.
"Lead the way."
-:-
"Tobias!"
It was no sooner then two steps into the pet store that the cashier girl came running up from behind the counter to the arriving pair, beaming openly and widely. The seventeen-year-old blonde watched, not at all amused, as the other female fell into a rather interesting conversation with the male at her side.
Not to say she was jealous or anything remotely close to it, Rachel just felt a ring of warning bells sound off in the back of her mind, telling her that this store clerk wasn't all that she appeared to be.
She had that wholesome goody-two-shoes air about her, too kind to hurt a fly but more then willing to pull hell on a person if they attempted to do so. Petite and seemingly demure, the cashier attendant had a thick mane of ebony-black curls, the first few layers pulled up while the rest was left to rest about her shoulders. Her eyes were a deep oak brown, flesh a rich caramel color.
She wore a short-sleeved grey shirt, loose about her tiny frame with the bright red Jeffer's Pet Palace sewn over the left breast. That tucked into a pair of cream white bellbottom jeans, cinching tight about her slender hips.
Then, the darker-haired girl turned her directions away from Tobias and to the girl at his side, stare inquisitive.
"So, who's your friend?" The cashier clerk questioned softly, a fine brow quirking in wonder, her lips twisting into all-knowing kind of grin.
The eighteen-year-old felt his face burn as he wasn't at all sure how to answer the question. It would be far too presumptuous to introduce her as his girlfriend, considering this was their very first date. But all truthfully, they weren't exactly just friends.
As if sensing his distress, Rachel stepped forward and gave a kind smile, despite her prior uncertainties.
"I'm Rachel, nice to meet you." She informed, extending her arm for a friendly welcoming shake.
The sable-haired female cast Tobias a laughing stare as she happily took the other female's hand in her own, giving it a good shake.
"I'm Cassie, Tobias and I used to go to school together before I switched districts."
The two exchanged a shake of heads in affirmation to the information, falling into a surprisingly comfortable hush. It short lived however as a rather rotund boy, no older then sixteen, suddenly stepped up to them with a heavy looking sack of dog food slung over his shoulder.
There was a shining gloss to his face, several pustules protruding out from the oily flesh. Absently fiddling with his thick black-rimmed spectacles that threatened to slip off his flat, pudgy nose; he scowled darkly in Cassie's direction.
"I don't pay you to stand around chatting with friends, Cassie. Get back to work." He snapped in a livid tone, giving her a warning glare before stomping off towards the canine section of the store.
"Well I guess that cuts this conversation." She announced with a sigh, glancing over her shoulder to give her superior a warning glare of her own before turning back to grin at the pair before her.
"I'll see you later Tobias and it was nice to meet you, Rachel."
The two waved a fleeting good-bye to the female as she returned to her designated station behind the front desk. There was a notable breach of silence after, which was quickly lifted as Rachel turned about to give her male companion a curious stare.
"So, you bring me here to introduce me to your friends?" She asked in a slightly amused tone, crossing her arms beneath her breasts.
Color found its way onto Tobias's face once more as he finally recalled the reason as to why he had brought her here. At the sudden amount of embarrassment and chagrin that dotted his handsome features, Rachel found her expression soften a fraction, realizing how hard-hitting her teasing words could be.
She was just about to apologize when Tobias took her hand in his, beginning to pull her further into the deeper bowels of the store. Her brow lifted as they stepped into one of the larger back rooms of Jeffer's Pet Palace, the one designated specifically for the bird species.
Rows of shining metal cages lined the immaculate white-painted walls of the room, each varying in size and color with one to two creatures housing within. As they strolled down the narrow pathway done about the chain of holding pens, the tiny animals within began to caw with life. They squawked and hissed at their presence, unaccustomed to the foreign visitors.
Rachel ignored the screeching little beasts, head lifted high and confident the entire trek before they finally came to a stop. They had halted in front of one of the larger cages, the last in the long row.
"It's a red-tailed hawk." Tobias felt inclined to inform, face pressed hazardously close to the slender bars of the cage front, poking a calloused finger through one of the narrow openings.
Rachel made a move to pull him away, realizing it the amount of danger her male counterpart was placing himself in. Despite the strong metal barrier, the little creature could easily catch his protruding finger with his razor-sharp beak.
The blonde was stopped however as the hawk nuzzled the flesh of the foreign extremity with grand affection. Tobias grinned, softly cooing a caw of his own as he gently ran the expanse of his pointer finger over the smooth curve of the creature's beak.
The seventeen-year-old found herself gaping, stunned, as the two began to exchange a round of half-hearted caws. And in that exact moment, any suspicions of a certain eighteen-year-old Tobias Fangor being the cutest guy alive had been affirmed.
"What's his name?" Rachel inquired softly, hunching over to hover her face over the barred cage and setting her face dangerously close to Tobias's.
The eighteen-year-old swallowed heavily; trying to ignore the fact the burning flesh of his right cheek was pressing painfully up against his female counterpart's, that her incomparable scent of the moon, sun, stars and freshly rained grass was filling all that he was breathing in and was efficiently sending his entire being into a dizzying high. She seemed totally indifference to the contact, pretty blue eyes focused firmly on the squawking bird before them.
And with another painful gulp like that of a pubescent boy holding his first encounter with the opposite sex, he quickly straightened and took one step back, finding it would be better if he just distanced himself. But no matter how hard he attempted, he always seemed to go within perilous proximity with the golden-haired female.
Though, despite himself, he didn't mind it as much as he claimed.
Rachel glanced at Tobias with a questioning stare, brow puckering with growing concern as she slowly began to approach the male. To every step she took, he took two steps back. It was only after he had his back pressed against the opposite string of cages, the birds within cawing madly at the sudden infringement on their homes, when he found his voice again.
"Mr. B-B-Berkshire." He stuttered, back pressed painfully hard against the metal boxes behind him and well sure that it had left a mark into his flesh.
The seventeen-year-old felt her brow furrow with that, her concern shifting into vast bewilderment.
Tobias gulped away the lump of uncertainty, fear and hormones that had accumulated within the core of his throat; allowing his increasing heart rate to return to some sort of normalcy before talking.
"His name," He murmured slowly, enunciating each word with a careful roll of the tongue.
"His name is Mr. Berkshire."
He then watched, still half-mortified out of hits wits, as Rachel suddenly turned around and back to the cage where his favored red-tailed hawk presided. She carefully slipped her well-manicured finger in one of the slit crevices between the bar door.
"It's certainly nice to meet you Mr. Berkshire. I'm Rachel."
The eighteen-year-old smiled quietly to himself at her over-all acceptance of his strange and quirky interests (such as meeting only solely in the early morning hours of three). He was well sure she would've run off by now due to his oddity, but she remained nonetheless. She had even attempted to join him in his questionable endeavors.
But this, a simple fascination with birds, was the tip of the iceberg and he wasn't all too sure that she would be so open to his other…hobbies.
-:-
Okay, so, it's a bit sappy a bit fluffy and cheesy to the extreme; but…I gotta soft spot for those kinda things, as long as it isn't all overly clichéd.
Mr. Berkshire…I don't really know as to why I chose that name, but, it seemed terribly cute for a predator-like animal such as the hawk. xp
So, how was it? Review, comment and please tell me of any OOCness concerning Rachel's part. Bleh…I needa dredge up those old books cause all the information is solely based on three-year-old information.
Review! (please?)