A/N: Gah…it's been too long since I updated. I'm sorry, guys. Really, I am.
Dedication: To Hyperactive Lioness, Miss Rouge Apple, and Armygirl0604 for letting me use your OCs in this set of drabbles. I hope I did them justice…
Disclaimer: Yeah. I totally own the awesome OCs created by these girls and the amazing world of Gone…not. I also do not own Ordinary Morning, by Sheryl Crow (yes, there's a song in this set…but not for the drabble you'd expect).
Note: There are only three drabbles this time, though I made them pretty long. I'll get to your pairing the next time around, ARandomBlonde! I promise!
I'll prove you wrong:
After a long day of practice, Alex Lucine is cleaning up after her fellow freaks. She'd made some real progress with Otter and Selena, and Cherish had even gained the nerve to look Drake in the eye before she left. Alex smiles to herself, brushing the dirt off her hands. They'd both come far these past few months.
"You can't save him, you know."
Alex whirls around to face the smirking form of Alaysia Flaim. Alaysia is leaning against one of the concrete walls of the basement, studying her cuticles with great interest. Alex's brow furrows.
"I'm sorry, what?"
Alaysia rolls her eyes. "Drake, you idiot. You can't save him." She shoots Alex a brutal smile. "All that stuff you've heard about him? That's only the tip of the iceberg. Drake is a sick, sick little puppy, and you'll be lucky to make it out of here alive."
"You don't know that," Alex whispers. "You can't know that."
"Who says?" Alaysia asks, stepping away from the wall and advancing toward Alex. Lucine holds her ground.
"Who says I don't know? Listen to me, kid; I've been at Coates for a lot longer than you have. I've seen Drake in action; I know what he can do. Guys like him chew up and spit out girls like you. You can't change him. You can't save him. You can't even save yourself."
Alex resists the urge to let water spout from her arm and take its whip-form. Instead she takes a deep breath in, steadying herself. "You're wrong," she says.
Alaysia laughs cruelly, shaking her head. "You idiot."
But Alex ignores her, storming out of the room. The same words repeat over and over in her mind, a mantra that she says to herself to keep from snapping.
I'll prove you wrong, Alaysia. I don't care what it takes; I'm going to prove you wrong.
What will it take?:
"Howard?"
Howard covers his ears with a nearby pillow. Why don't these girls ever shut up? Just for a minute? Honestly, what will it take for him to get some peace and quiet around here?!
"Howard!"
A death moan escapes Howard's lips; she's found him.
"Howard!" Pete cries, exasperated. "Howard, get up. I can see you hiding under the bed, you know."
Howard glares up at the southern belle (Ha! More like Steel Magnolia!). "Go away, girl. Can't you see I'm trying to relax?"
Pete sighs. "Yeah, well, while you snooze the day away, I've got work to do. C'mon, Howard; what will it take for me to get ya outta bed and in the garden, picking fruit?"
"I ain't doin' no work."
Howard hears Pete sigh again, this time in defeat. He listens to her footsteps, short and dejected, as she walks into the kitchen. He can almost picture her slumping at the table, staring at the knots in the wood, a pout on her lips. It's almost a shame she has to wear that expression, Howard thinks. She's usually so happy; bouncing and full of life…
Howard groans, rolling his eyes and standing up, wishing he wasn't such a pushover.
Because all it really takes to get him to work is a well-placed frown on a pair of nice-looking lips.
Ordinary Morning:
As Aly packs her belongings into a duffel bag, she sets her ipod to shuffle, hoping some music will calm her down. It's been a stressful few weeks, and she wants nothing more than to relax.
"I left a man asleep in the nude. I painted my pocket with lipstick and rouge."
Aly pauses, her hand on a stripped shirt, as she hears the familiar words of a Sheryl Crow song.
"Everything I ever wanted, what a lovely pie you've baked, is anybody listening? Why the painted bird never flies away…It's just an ordinary morning. It's just an ordinary day. And I'm just an ordinary woman…slipping away."
Aly can't help herself; her eyes slip over to Nick's picture, framed on her purple wall. He seems to smile right at her, his lovely eyes lighting up the room. Aly's fingers tremble as she places the shirt in her bag.
"The walls have been talking about me again. I'm good for a joke, but when I awoke, the dream didn't end."
Aly takes the picture from the wall, tracing the lines of Nick's face with her fingertips. She sighs, trying to keep away the stray tears building in her eyes. Hasn't she cried enough already?
"Now every time I turn around I'm only sleeping, John, is anybody out there? And the wounded bird still sings!"
She carefully places the picture in her bag, telling herself to be strong, that soon this will all be over. She'll leave this place, this town, and all of her memories behind. It's time to start a new life…time to leave this one behind.
"Oh, it's just and ordinary morning. It's just an ordinary day. And I'm just an ordinary woman…slipping away."
Aly looks out her window for the last time, mouthing the words of the song. She doesn't want to slip away. But she can feel it happening to her. With every visit to the hospital, every tear, she is slipping further and further away from herself.
"Oh, it's just an ordinary morning! It's just an ordinary day! And I'm just an ordinary woman…slipping away!"
And that is why this move is necessary. Once she gets to Coates, she can make a new start. Aly's sure of it. Once she arrives at Coates, the old Aly will return. She'll stop slipping away.
Zipping up her bag, Aly sits down on her bed, waiting for the song to finish before she heads downstairs to get a quick snack before leaving. She doesn't want to board the plane on an empty stomach.
That thought is so ridiculous, Aly begins to laugh. Even with the world crashing down around her, she's still able to worry about food.
"Don't you wanna slip away? Oh! Now, don't you wanna slip away?"
Soon she starts head-banging along to the song.
"I said now, don't you want—"
"Aly!" her brother calls. "Aly, come downstairs! I made you some grilled cheese with ketchup!"
"—don't you want—"
"Okay, coming!" Aly replies.
"—don't you want—"
"Good, it won't be hot for long," Aly hears him mumble.
"—don't you wanna slip away, yeah!"
With a sad smile, Aly takes the ipod off its stand and shoves it in her pocket.
You won't slip away, Aly promises herself. No matter what…I won't let myself slip away.
With squared shoulders, Aly marches downstairs to meet her grilled cheese and her fate.
I hope you all enjoyed! You can try looking up Ordinary Morning on Youtube, but I think all you'll find is the stupid Eric Clapton version, which has some different lyrics. –sigh-
Anyway, R&R! And keep suggesting those pairings!