First Day's Blues. Escape With Me... //Open\\

[Reed Turner]

His brown hair laid lop-sided on his head as he leaned back on the wooden bench. His leather jacket made a few noises as he eased in the bench. His jeans shifting from his legs. He exhaled. It had been a long day...and it was only half finished.

School at Valkyrie Academy had started once again and the boy of 18 was less than thrilled to start the year once again. He had so much on top of his head. The club he basically owned since the pudgy manager who seemed more thrilled to go to Vegas every goddamn weekend than setting up bands and booze to keep the club afloat. No, it was all up to Reed. Reed, Reed, Reed.

He sat up once again, clearing his mind. He kept his eyes opened as he looked around the courtyard. It was fourth period, Reed's free period, and the sun was barely out. There were other students around the courtyard here and there. He wondered if they all felt the same way he did. He opened up his black bookbag to retrieve his anatomy book and aimlessly opened to a random page. Might as well see what he was going to be prepared for the next nine months. But, he couldn't even concentrate, his eyes unfocusing at the small text.

Why did his senior year already start to suck? Wasn't that suppose to be the best years of your life?[/color]

[aryajohnson]

The pretty Hispanic was already sitting under a tree in the courtyard. It just so happened that fourth was her free period also. She focused on her dance ideas and not on the million people who were able to converse easily with each other. She was writing in Spanish, which she would have to convert to English sooner or later. But, for now, she had a page of pure Spanish dance steps which she thought would make them win anything. Of course, her dance group needed a lot of work. Still, she was ready to go through extreme levels to reach their goal. If only she hadn’t spent ten years in Spain and another four in Mexico. And when they moved to Las Cruces, half of the population could speak Spanish also. But here in California, she needed English. Which she didn’t have…

Arya Johnson snapped out of her self-pity mode. Her shoulder length brown hair was down for a change. It accented her brown eyes perfectly, which was also helped by heavy black eyeliner. Her lips were coated in strawberry lip gloss that shone in the shade of the tree. Her upper body was protected by a blue sweater and a white t-shirt. Jeans hung to her lower body along with white running shoes. Golden bangles protected her dark tan wrists. Golden hoop which were considered earrings hung from her ears.

The sixteen year old was barely making it through the day. This was pure out hell for her.[/color]

[Reed Turner]

It was useless. Reed closed the textbook and shoved it back into his bookbag. He looked up as he grabbed his notebook. Something caught his eye. A double take was sure what Reed did. The girl about twenty feet away from him sitting underneath a tree. She was scribbling something in her notebook.

Reed knew he saw her before. They had talked a little bit at Bare and Nonsense, two of the local clubs located on The Strip. She had mad skills when it came to dance. He put the notebook back in his bookbag. She went to Valkyrie? He thought she was vacationing.

Zipping up his bookbag he stood up. Should he approach her? He swung the bookbag over his shoulder and started to walk in her direction.

Why the hell not?[/color]

[Min-Sook Park]

There were many students at Valkyrie Academy. Obviously, some had to have fourth period as free period. Nikki was one of those students that just hung out at free period.

Nikki's blonde hair flowed behind her as the wind blew. She tried to make a great first impression. After all, it was a new school year. Nikki tried to impress her teachers by listening and getting good grades. She was mostly intersted in the sports at Valkyrie though.

Nikki walked to a fountain nearby. She stood there, thinking what the rest of the school year would be like. Nikki wondered if there was going to be any athletic boys. Those were the kind of guys she liked.

Hoping that her school year was great, Nikki stood up and walked around the courtyard. She saw a boy walking towards a girl. Nikki thought that guy looked really athletic. In the future would she like him? Maybe he was the farthest thing away from sporty.

Nikki started to think about sports again. There wasn't much to do at free period for her anyways.

[lorenzobonaventure]

He saw her. Oh, damnit, did he see her.

She seemed so elusive. He only spoke a tiny bit of Spanish, but it was enough to try and create a comfortable atmosphere. Not that she didn't know any english. But he was fairly sure that she felt much more comfortable with her native language, was all. She was rather brave, he thought for coming here. And she was a fantastic dancer and captain to his co-captain.

Sauntering through the courtyard, he wasn't quite watching where he walked, but rather, he watched Arya. His hands were in the pockets of his rather snug-fitting jeans, and his black Converse made dull thuds on the pavement. His light russet locks laid limply down, the ends curling out slightly, his bangs and the sides curling inward randomly to frame his strong features. Full lips drawn into a half-grin, he moved over to Arya without further ado. Stepping under the tree, he looked down at the girl and then proceeded with seating himself next to her, the outgoing chap he was. "Hola or hello," he offered, "I'm still not sure whether or not I should try to learn Spanish around you or to stick with English..."

The last bit was added more so to himself. More so a statement that he randomly threw out there. Cobalt eyes fell on the page which she wrote, and he raised a brow. His brown blazer scratched a bit on the tree trunk, the long-sleeved, white collared shirt beneath it safe from dirt. Not that he particularly cared about his clothing at the moment. Again, he made an attempt at her language, hoping that his lack of Spanish accent didn't make him sound like too much of an idiot. "Que tal, Arya? Te ves muy bonita," he said with a broad smile. Eh. She knew him. She'd talked with him before. And every time they talked, he paid her at least one compliment. So hopefully she wouldn't think ill of him.

[Min-Sook Park]

Nikki saw another guy going up to that girl. So many people like Ayra. It wasn't fair. Nikki loved guys that were sporty but boys only seem to like those pretty girls. They didn't care about the ones that loved sports.

Nikki shouldn't think about the situation but why wouldn't she? Her entire life, she never knew if someone liked her. The only guys that she knew were her friends and nothing more. Nikki wondered if she should become a girl that wears dresses and all that. The thought made her shiver.

Skirts were okay for Nikki but dresses?! She only wore one pink dress to a party. That was the only dress she had. This love thing was very confusing. After all, not many boys Nikki saw at Valkyrie Academy were athletic anyways.

Nikki decided to meet this girl. She walked up to her but stop a few feet away from Lorenzo.

[aryajohnson]

Arya kept writing, not paying attention to the two boys who were currently making their way towards her. The Hispanic girl was on a roll, her blue pen moving across her notebook quickly. Scratching sounds could be heard as she kept writing; only paying attention to what she was writing. Thinking about dance was her only way to get away, so she took this chance to escape. Her mind was doing the steps, dancing to the beat of her mind. Her pen was her eyes, on a certain spot and everywhere at the same time. She didn’t care if she was looking like a maniac; no one would be able to actually talk to her without great confusion.

Hola or hello. I'm still not sure whether or not I should try to learn Spanish around you or to stick with English... Que tal, Arya? Te ves muy bonita she heard from someone next to her as she stopped her pen, taking in what she just heard. Her mind understood: ‘Hi. What’s up, Arya? You look very pretty,” but the rest of his English was a mess. She frowned slightly, trying to make sense of the English part. Now, she hated her Papá for suggesting they moved to California. No…she hated her dad’s business for MAKING them move to California. But, it was also his choice to go to California and not find a better job.

“No mucho,” she said, with a slight pause. Her tongue flowed quickly, but her voice was still small, like a shy person’s was always. Her Spanish was quick, but it was understandable. She frowned in thought for a few moments before adding, “Lorenzo.” At his compliment, she felt her checks start to burn and a small blush appear on her dark tanned skin. “Gracias.”
[/color]

[Min-Sook Park]

Nikki went up to Ayra next. She sat right next to her. "Are you my dance captain?" she asked, trying to start a topic.

Nikki wanted to become friends with Ayra but it seemed like she wouldn't be noticed. After all, Ayra was so busy writing in her book. Was she writing or doodling? Nikki couldn't even tell.

"I'm Nikki," Nikki said,"One of your dance class members."

[lorenzobonaventure]

Lorenzo shrugged, "Eh. De nada." You're welcome.

He glanced at the page again and read over her shoulder. Or, at least he tried. And he gathered a good amount... Or so he thought. "Que es escribes?" he asked her finally, for he had only an idea of what she was writing. What was she writing, he had asked her, and suddenly it ocurred to him that it could be about dance. Of course. The young woman simply emerged herself in dance. It was as if it was the only thing she ever did. At least, it was the only thing he had ever seen her do. And so well too... God, she was such a pretty thing. A year younger, but age was never an issue with Lorenzo really. In fact, age never crossed his mind when he consider love, lust or romance at all. It just didn't, for it wasn't important. You didn't have to have lived the same amount of life as your partner has.

"Es sobre danza?" Is it about dance? Or, he thought that's what he said. It all fit, but it might have been jumbled up. But he was sure that Arya would understand perfectly fine. To make things a bit easier, he then asked, "Tu hablas ingles? Un poco?" Do you know English? A little? That way, if he didn't know a spanish word, he'd simply stick in something english.

And then he saw Nikki and flashed her a smile, "I'm not sure she understands Nik..." he offered lamely, shrugging. "I just asked her if she did. Verdad, Arya?" Right, Arya?

[Reed Turner]

"Hey, Ary-"

It was a cut-off. By Lorenzo, a guy he talked to occasionly. He slowly retreated his arm where it was in a mid-wave. He saw a smile crept on Lorenzo's face. He must be swooning. Damn, he was too late. He saw another girl almost fly into her. He couldn't hear the conversation even though he was only a few feet away. Maybe he should just intrude. Or would that be just plain rude?

Reed isn't the type about thinking twice, so he continued his walk towards the group.

[Min-Sook Park]

Nikki looked at Reed. He seemed to be cut off by Lorenzo. Nikki knew how that felt but didn't say anything. That happened to her one time and Nikki just walked away.

'I wonder if he's athletic..." Nikki thought in her mind. She might actually get a chance of getting some guy friends at Valkyrie Academy. This time, it might be a guy that likes sports. Unlike her old guy friends that were just in her class but didn't like sports.

Nikki then turned to Arya, waiting for an answer. Even though Lorenzo said she probably didn't understand English.

[aryajohnson]

Arya moved some of her brown hair off her shoulders. It fell behind her shoulders and bounced off her back slightly. She was listening, just not looking at Nikki and Lorenzo, who were sitting on either side of her. Nikki’s words went into her head and caused a great scramble of English and Spanish words. ‘Dance’ and ‘captain’ were the only words that she understood, but that was it. The rest of them were words that sounded like the critter-chatter of birds. You couldn’t understand them and you had no idea what they meant. And basically, that’s what Arya was feeling right now. A human among a flock of birds, birds that were talking really fast, just to confuse her. She knew that wasn’t what they were trying to do, but it sure felt like it.

Que es escribes? Es sobre danza? Tu hablas ingles? Un poco? Verdad, Arya? were the five million questions Lorenzo asked her. She slid her pen into her notebook’s rings, then slowly closed her notebook, thinking about what he asked her. “Si, si,” she replied to Lorenzo’s first two questions. “Si,” she said slowly to the next, “un poco. ¿Derecho sobre qué?”
[/color]

[porcilen]

Jem strolled into the courtyard, rubbing his eyes and yawning, he looked around noticing a few people he knew from classes but never did talk to them.
He sat down on a bench, and took out a piece of paper, his application for the bascketball team. Jem decided to finnally try out, his green and brown eyes strayed around the courtyard, he noticed people whispering about him or just plane not making eye contact. Jem didn't care the least.

[Min-Sook Park]

Nikki was about to ask Arya the same question again but something caught her eye. A boy sitting on a bench filling out some papers. Nikki would know the basketball application anywhere. She saw a guy filling it all. That told Nikki he was athletic.

She didn't want to approach him though. She had trouble talking to guys she like-and let me tell you, she liked this guy. Nikki wanted to talk to him so bad but she was too shy when it came to athletic boys.

There was nothing she could do. Nikki couldn't gain the confidence to talk to the boy. She just sat there next to Arya.

[porcilen]

Jem looked up after filling in his name and grade and noticed a girl staring at him, but not like, ew, kind of stare, a differant one and that made him uneasy. He never saw this..kind of look toward him before.

Jem shook his head and tapped his foot as he filled in his date of birth and all the other questions. Jem hadn't noticed his pen was low on ink and it soon ran out, grunting he threw it away. "What now?" he muttered sullumly.