Detailed Roleplayers discussion
1x1
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Heather and Morgan (con)
" Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning.You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could."
–Louise Erdrich
Name: Sayor Ray Dunkley
Nicknames: "Say" "Ray-Ray"
Gender: Female
Age: 16 (almost 17)
Birthday: September 6
Birth place: L.A. California
Education: Junior at LAHS
Occupation Waitress at The Cheesecake Factory
Appearance:
"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
(view spoiler)
Face Claim: Julianne Hough
Hair: She has naturally blonde hair that is at shoulder length
Eyes: Blue/green
Height: 5'5
Weight: 135
Personality:
"Being yourself is one of the hardest things because it’s scary. You always wonder whether you’ll be accepted for who you really are. I decided to call my record ‘Inside Out’ because that’s my motto about life. I don’t think you ever succeed at trying to be anyone else but who you truly are."
-Emmy Rossum
Strong: Sayor is incredibly strong willed and stubborn. She believes in standing up for what's right...even if she stands alone. She doesn't give in easily, and will fight for what she believes is right. It doesn't matter what you say, once she's made up her mind, its almost impossible to change it.
Cocky: Sayor is pretty Cocky, and isn't ashamed of it. She loves herself, (a little too much according to some people) And isn't afraid to show what shes got. But she doesn't show off. Showing off is low, and Sawyer would never ever go there.
Secritive: Sayor sides the scars and markings from her cancer treatments. She doesn't want anyone to know. Because they will pitty her. They will pitty the fact that her parents didn't think she would live...that she would die. She hides the fact that she feels so alone.
Tough: She is tough, and never cries over getting hurt. Nothing that could ever happen to her, could be as bad as surgery and the medication was. Nothing can beat that. After months and months of treatments, you get used to it.
Caring: Sayor is very caring and gentle, always willing to lend a hand. She will sit and listen to your problems, and be your shoulder tto cry on. She is willing to help any person. Big or small. It doesn't matter to her.
History:
When Sayor was fiver years old, she was diagnosed with Luekemia. She was taken to treatment after treatment, until no one thought she would live. Being a premature baby, she was already small for her age, and the surgeries and medication was taking their toll. Her parents started planning her funereal after 5 months of treatments. They didn't care what she did, saying "Oh she'll die anyway." "She's too weak." No one believed she would get better. But she did.
At age seven, Sayor went into remission. She stayed that way for four years, and just when they thought ththe cancer was gone for good, it came back. Once again, her parents didn't think she would live. They grew apart from her, not getting attatched to the daughter they would loose. After two years of being called weak, and sickly. After two years of loosing hair, and being called ugly, Sayor pulled through. She made it out of her second battle with cancer, and she won.
Now at age 16, healthy with a head full of hair, Sayor is healed. She knows that she isn't safe from the cancer, that it could come back any day now, and that it wasn't likely she would survive, so she lives her life to the fullest, praying she will be able to to the things she dreams about. Her parents stay away, far away, determined not to get close to her. They don't think she'll make it past twenty, but Sayor has other plans.
Crush? How does she feel about her clock? Sayor doesn't have a crush, and she doesn't believe in her clock. Why would she have a perfect match if she was going to die any way? She refuses to look at it, refuses to know who she will leave broken hearted.
Likes:
-Dance
-Quotes
-Sleeping
-Skiing
-Photography
-School
Dislikes:
-Hospitals
-Swimming
-Math
-Her parents
-Cats
Hobbies:
-Singing
-Drama
-Visiting Cancer paitents, and classes for people in remission
Family:
-Dad, Robbie Dunkley
-Mom, Jay Dunkley
-Cousin, Hudson Phillips
Other: None
–Louise Erdrich
Name: Sayor Ray Dunkley
Nicknames: "Say" "Ray-Ray"
Gender: Female
Age: 16 (almost 17)
Birthday: September 6
Birth place: L.A. California
Education: Junior at LAHS
Occupation Waitress at The Cheesecake Factory
Appearance:
"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
(view spoiler)
Face Claim: Julianne Hough
Hair: She has naturally blonde hair that is at shoulder length
Eyes: Blue/green
Height: 5'5
Weight: 135
Personality:
"Being yourself is one of the hardest things because it’s scary. You always wonder whether you’ll be accepted for who you really are. I decided to call my record ‘Inside Out’ because that’s my motto about life. I don’t think you ever succeed at trying to be anyone else but who you truly are."
-Emmy Rossum
Strong: Sayor is incredibly strong willed and stubborn. She believes in standing up for what's right...even if she stands alone. She doesn't give in easily, and will fight for what she believes is right. It doesn't matter what you say, once she's made up her mind, its almost impossible to change it.
Cocky: Sayor is pretty Cocky, and isn't ashamed of it. She loves herself, (a little too much according to some people) And isn't afraid to show what shes got. But she doesn't show off. Showing off is low, and Sawyer would never ever go there.
Secritive: Sayor sides the scars and markings from her cancer treatments. She doesn't want anyone to know. Because they will pitty her. They will pitty the fact that her parents didn't think she would live...that she would die. She hides the fact that she feels so alone.
Tough: She is tough, and never cries over getting hurt. Nothing that could ever happen to her, could be as bad as surgery and the medication was. Nothing can beat that. After months and months of treatments, you get used to it.
Caring: Sayor is very caring and gentle, always willing to lend a hand. She will sit and listen to your problems, and be your shoulder tto cry on. She is willing to help any person. Big or small. It doesn't matter to her.
History:
When Sayor was fiver years old, she was diagnosed with Luekemia. She was taken to treatment after treatment, until no one thought she would live. Being a premature baby, she was already small for her age, and the surgeries and medication was taking their toll. Her parents started planning her funereal after 5 months of treatments. They didn't care what she did, saying "Oh she'll die anyway." "She's too weak." No one believed she would get better. But she did.
At age seven, Sayor went into remission. She stayed that way for four years, and just when they thought ththe cancer was gone for good, it came back. Once again, her parents didn't think she would live. They grew apart from her, not getting attatched to the daughter they would loose. After two years of being called weak, and sickly. After two years of loosing hair, and being called ugly, Sayor pulled through. She made it out of her second battle with cancer, and she won.
Now at age 16, healthy with a head full of hair, Sayor is healed. She knows that she isn't safe from the cancer, that it could come back any day now, and that it wasn't likely she would survive, so she lives her life to the fullest, praying she will be able to to the things she dreams about. Her parents stay away, far away, determined not to get close to her. They don't think she'll make it past twenty, but Sayor has other plans.
Crush? How does she feel about her clock? Sayor doesn't have a crush, and she doesn't believe in her clock. Why would she have a perfect match if she was going to die any way? She refuses to look at it, refuses to know who she will leave broken hearted.
Likes:
-Dance
-Quotes
-Sleeping
-Skiing
-Photography
-School
Dislikes:
-Hospitals
-Swimming
-Math
-Her parents
-Cats
Hobbies:
-Singing
-Drama
-Visiting Cancer paitents, and classes for people in remission
Family:
-Dad, Robbie Dunkley
-Mom, Jay Dunkley
-Cousin, Hudson Phillips
Other: None
Sayor closed her eyes, trying to block out her parents arguing. They wouldn't shut up. She had gotten home from the hospital two days before and already she kind of wished she could go back. Hudson walked into her room, lying down next to her on her bed. She had been banished to the attick for her bedroom and it sucked. Majorly. Hudson was her cousin who lived with them, and he got treated better than she did. Her parents were horrible people. She hated them.
"Hey Say. How you doing?" He asked, glancing at her after a moment of silence.
"I'm surviving."
The two stayed like that forever, talking like no bodies business. Hudson did this whenever she was released from the hospital. He claims that he just missed her, but Sayor knew it was because he was scared she would die on him. Every time without fail. When she had an episode, when they went in for a catscan and it lit up like a Christmas tree, the next night he was there, lying next to her in her bed, keeping her awake for hours. Sayor didnt mind. She liked the company.
"Sayor! Hudson! Get dressed! We are going to the neighbors for dinner and you are going to look presentable!" Her mother's shrill voice sounded. The two sighed, both sitting up. "See you in a bit." Hudson said softly, ruffling her hair. Sayor grinned, watching him go before trying to decide what to wear. Her mother would insist upon a Dress, so she had to pick a good one. One she could wear shorts on underneath. Sayor finally decided on a vintage 50s style dress that went to her knees. Underneath it she wore soccer shorts, and for shoes? White Vans. Her blonde hair was curled and done in a fancy looking side ponytail. Would this be good enough? She hoped so. Sayor walked downstairs, her signature bright red jacket on top of the dress. Her mom couldnt complain. Hopefully.
After a 20 minute lecture from her mother about reputations and appearances they were on the road. Sayor and Hudson sitting in the back with her mom in the front. Her dad was lucky, he got to skip out on dinner to go to "work" Really, he was going out to get drunk. They pulled into a driveway, got lectured again, and then they all headed up to the front door, Sayor balancing a plate of rolls in her arms. She just wanted to go home.
"Hey Say. How you doing?" He asked, glancing at her after a moment of silence.
"I'm surviving."
The two stayed like that forever, talking like no bodies business. Hudson did this whenever she was released from the hospital. He claims that he just missed her, but Sayor knew it was because he was scared she would die on him. Every time without fail. When she had an episode, when they went in for a catscan and it lit up like a Christmas tree, the next night he was there, lying next to her in her bed, keeping her awake for hours. Sayor didnt mind. She liked the company.
"Sayor! Hudson! Get dressed! We are going to the neighbors for dinner and you are going to look presentable!" Her mother's shrill voice sounded. The two sighed, both sitting up. "See you in a bit." Hudson said softly, ruffling her hair. Sayor grinned, watching him go before trying to decide what to wear. Her mother would insist upon a Dress, so she had to pick a good one. One she could wear shorts on underneath. Sayor finally decided on a vintage 50s style dress that went to her knees. Underneath it she wore soccer shorts, and for shoes? White Vans. Her blonde hair was curled and done in a fancy looking side ponytail. Would this be good enough? She hoped so. Sayor walked downstairs, her signature bright red jacket on top of the dress. Her mom couldnt complain. Hopefully.
After a 20 minute lecture from her mother about reputations and appearances they were on the road. Sayor and Hudson sitting in the back with her mom in the front. Her dad was lucky, he got to skip out on dinner to go to "work" Really, he was going out to get drunk. They pulled into a driveway, got lectured again, and then they all headed up to the front door, Sayor balancing a plate of rolls in her arms. She just wanted to go home.
Nathaniel lay flat on his back on his bed, throwing the ball up to the ceiling and catching it again. His mother had forbidden him from leaving the house with friends that morning, since the new neighbors were coming over for dinner. He had finished his chores and cleaned up the place without complaint as usual, but he wished he could just leave for a little while, come back an hour before they got here. It wouldn't hurt anyone. With three hours to get ready and assist his mother with the cooking and cleaning, Nath just wanted to go on a run, maybe go up to The Hill for a bit, watch the sun set over the hills. Nope. "Na-ath! Come downstairs please, help me with the chicken, and take out the trash!" His mother's familiar voice called up the stairs. He could just picture her with her hands on her hips, her favorite apron around her waist. "Coming, mom!" He hollored back, tempted to snap at her. Nathaniel just felt so irritated this week, having been kept at home every free weekend he got a chance to. Last week it was helping his dad with the yard, the week before, going to the mall with Desirae and his mother. It just couldnt wait. He just had to help everyone. Annoyed, Nathaniel lobbed the bouncy ball against the wall, letting it bounce back and tumble off his bed to the floor. His head hurt from laying down, but the headache quickly displeased when he walked downstairs. Desirae was cleaning her toys, his father still at work. Silently, Nathan trudged into the kitchen in his favorite comfy soccer sweats and an old tshirt, wearing mismatched socks per usual. "The trash," his mother reminded him as soon as he approached, and Nathaniel squeezed his fists to keep from saying anything rude. Normally, he had no trouble helping out his family. He was jsut fed up with them this week. Today he'd been looking forward to seeing a soccer game down at the college with his closest friends, but cancelled just that morning when his mother said no. Whatever.
Nathan slung the kitchen trash as well as another bag from all the bathrooms trashes, lugging them out the side door where the trash bins were aligned neatly. "'Traash,'" Nat mimicked with annoyance, slamming the buckets open and throwing the bags brutally inside. He kicked the bin to make the lid close, holding his breath as a waft of rotten smells came up with it. He washed his hands back inside, tense as his mother moved around him in the kitchen murmuring things to herself. "What do you need help with?" He demanded a little more sharply than intended, his hands on h is hips as he purposely stood in his mother's way.
Nathan stopped acting up when his mother gave him an offended look, immediately guilt washing over his face. "Never mind, Nathaniel," she said coldly, shoving past him to get to the fridge and grab the vegetables. "Mom, I will do it! I'm sorry-!" He protested, fearing getting scolded. He managed to take the vegetables from her, beginning to wash them as he waited for instructions. His mother loosened up eventually, and by the time the salad was finished and sitting in the fridge and the chicken was roasting in the oven with the baked potatoes and pies, they were laughing together. "Thank you honey, now go get dressed, they'll be here in a while," she urged, pushing him gently to go shower. In significantly better spirits, Nathan jogged upstairs with little less than an hour to clean up. He expected that the neighbors were just normal, the average parents and little kids or something. That's what his mom had said.
After showering and lathering on deoderant, Nathan dressed semi-nicely in his beige jeans, paired with a light red and blue flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He wore a black tie after being sent back to his room to spiff himself up a little more, tucking in his shirt with a thick brown belt, some black and white vans on his feet. His hair was seeped back and up like usual, and Nathaniel was satisfied with himself in the mirror. He took out his contacts for dinner, slipping on his black rimmed RayBans, before closing his bedroom door behind him to go find Desirae. She was in her room, distracted by playing with the cat, Dash. He was white with gray spots and a cute pink little nose, the cat that Nathan absolutely adored. The dogs were locked outside in the yard to sleep in their little dog houses, and the second cat was roaming somewhere in the house.
"Nathy!" Desirae squealed, her bouncy curls moving on her head as she ran to greet him. You could tell she was adopted, as Desirae didn't nearly resemble anyone in the family. That was okay, and Nathan loved his little sister dearly. She meant everything to him, and Everytime she went to the hospital, he came with. He even left school at times and faced detentions because of it. "Hello, dezzy!" He laughed, careful not to knock his glasses from his face as he wrapped his little sister In a hug. "We need to get you dressed, sweetie," he murmured, kissing her cheek briefly before setting her down. "I don't wanna get dressed, I'm a princess!" Desirae complained, pouting as she let her arms dangle at her sides. She was clad in her leotard from ballet, with a huge pink and purple tutu. A plastic crown from the dollar section adorned her head to complete the look. "I know you are. And tonight, you're going to a beautiful ball," he grinned, opening the giant walk in closet in the corner of Desiraes room. He picked out a bright pastel pink summer dress, a simple knee length one with thick shoulder sleeves. Getting Desirae to wear the clothes was easy, as she reluctantly always listened to her big brother.
The doorbell rang and his mother jogged down the hallway, peeking into desires room. "I'll do her hair, go grab the door and invite them in! I'll be down in jsut a second!" She panicked, dealing with knots in Desirae hair that he hadn't been able to figure out. Nathan blew a kiss to Desirae, grinning as he skipped some stairs on his jog down. His father had come home some thirty minutes ago, and had occupied himself with feeding the dogs out back judging by the barks. Nathaniel unlocked the large front door, revealing a beaming woman, her husbamd, her son, and... her daughter. "Hey!" Nathan smiled shyly, opening the door wider and gesturing inside. "Come on in," he offered, waving them towards the front hallway. When the girl came in last, he offered an arm out to her. "I can take those," he said quietly, a shy half smile on his lips.
Sayor fiddled with her dress as they drove, Hudson watching her carefully as if she would disappear within seconds. She didnt say anything though, knowing her cousin would get embarrassed. She wouldn't want that. At all. "Sayor. Now I want nothing but lady like behavior from you. Just because you spend most of your life in the hospital doesnt give you persmission to act like a heathon. Alright? Just watch Hudson. He has perfect manners." Her mother said sternly, the frown permanetly etched into her face. Sayor had honestly never seen that woman smile at her. Hudson got plenty, but Sayor? No way. It was a miracle if she got something other than a scowl. Sayor would never get along with anyone in her family other than Hudson, and that was perfectly fine with her.
They were just climbing out of the car when Hudson touched her shoulder. "I would leave the jacket in the car." He whispered, nodding at her mother. "Its a amazing that you got this far." And that was true. Sayor groaned, Placing the rolls on the seat as she took off her jacket. "I hate this. Can't I just go home?" She asked him, glaring at him as he chuckled. "Nope. Now you see what I have to do when you're in the hospital." Sayor found herself really pitying her brother. Anyone who was forced to do this deserved a big award. Its not quite as bad as cancer, but it was up there.
They walked to the door, her mother giving her one last glare before the door opened, revealing a very attractive boy. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. She bit her lip as her slightly tipsy father stumbled into the house, her mother grinning and acting like a nice lady followed shortly behind. Ew. Sayor hated them so much. Hudson walked forward, nodding at the boy, sizing him up slightly. He probably took about two years. "Oh my gosh Hudson go." Sayor sighed, shoving him forward. Honestly these people. Sayor wantted to walk away now. When she walked in, the boy held out his arm, offering to take the rolls. She smiled slightly, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "They are all yours my friend."
Sayor handed them to him happily, brushing off her horrible dress. She stood there, watching Hudson who looked at her with concern. Sayor was always really tired and sore after the hospital. She couldn't stand for long periods of time without getting dizzy. The Chemotherapy really screwed up everything. "You okay?" He whispered, not waiting for an answer as he found the boy. "Hey do you have a place for her to sit down?" He asked, making her glare at him, even if she needed it. She didn't want their neighbors to know. She didn't want anyone to know. She was techniqually cancer free...but she really didnt want to risk it. She hated the sympathy glances she alwasy got. They were so awful.
They were just climbing out of the car when Hudson touched her shoulder. "I would leave the jacket in the car." He whispered, nodding at her mother. "Its a amazing that you got this far." And that was true. Sayor groaned, Placing the rolls on the seat as she took off her jacket. "I hate this. Can't I just go home?" She asked him, glaring at him as he chuckled. "Nope. Now you see what I have to do when you're in the hospital." Sayor found herself really pitying her brother. Anyone who was forced to do this deserved a big award. Its not quite as bad as cancer, but it was up there.
They walked to the door, her mother giving her one last glare before the door opened, revealing a very attractive boy. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. She bit her lip as her slightly tipsy father stumbled into the house, her mother grinning and acting like a nice lady followed shortly behind. Ew. Sayor hated them so much. Hudson walked forward, nodding at the boy, sizing him up slightly. He probably took about two years. "Oh my gosh Hudson go." Sayor sighed, shoving him forward. Honestly these people. Sayor wantted to walk away now. When she walked in, the boy held out his arm, offering to take the rolls. She smiled slightly, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "They are all yours my friend."
Sayor handed them to him happily, brushing off her horrible dress. She stood there, watching Hudson who looked at her with concern. Sayor was always really tired and sore after the hospital. She couldn't stand for long periods of time without getting dizzy. The Chemotherapy really screwed up everything. "You okay?" He whispered, not waiting for an answer as he found the boy. "Hey do you have a place for her to sit down?" He asked, making her glare at him, even if she needed it. She didn't want their neighbors to know. She didn't want anyone to know. She was techniqually cancer free...but she really didnt want to risk it. She hated the sympathy glances she alwasy got. They were so awful.
Um here's some:
http://simplicityphotography.com/blog...
http://38.media.tumblr.com/2a9b1269ef...
http://38.media.tumblr.com/23fd6b2ec4...
http://simplicityphotography.com/blog...
http://38.media.tumblr.com/2a9b1269ef...
http://38.media.tumblr.com/23fd6b2ec4...
Nathan held his breath as the people came in, with the brother standing a good few inches taller than him with alot more muscle than Nathaniel could have hoped for himself. He wasnt sure if the kid was a bully, but he sure seemed like it. Nath held his tongue, offering a strained half-hearted smile as he fixed his hair, his brown eyes looking back down to the floor behind his glasses. What was that kids problem. The sister seemed alot cooler to him, with blonde hair and blue green eyes like the sea. She was goregous, he couldnt lie. He wasnt wrong about her personality, because she stepped right up to him with a smile on her lips. "Thank you, ma'am," he rolled his eyes, laughing softly as he took the tray of warm bread from her arms. "Im Nathaniel Harrison," he offered, wondering awkwardly if he was to shake a girls hand, or hug her. He was lucky she wasn't french, and they didn't have to kiss cheeks in greeting. Nathan probably would have messed that up, big time. It was rare to have girls at the house, especially ones who looked about his age. Nathan straightened his tie and stood a little taller with his bread rolls, turning to walk with the girl towards the dining room. A table set for eight, with three on either side and one at each head of the table. While Nathan let them mill around in the dining room, he dropped off the bread rolls and took off the tinfoil from the plate, setting it on the over to warm. "Mom!" He hollored, a bit nervous to keep the guests entertained himself. His father opened the sliding screen door, still in his business suit. He resembled very closely to his son, with the same lanky structure and brown hair, and kind brown eyes. "Theyre here?" Declan raised an eyebrow, hooking an arm around his son's shoulder and ruffling his hair with a small laugh. "Dining room," Nathan nodded, grinning right back eith an almost identical smile.
His mother hurried down the stairs holding Desiraes hand, looking very flustered after a long talk with her daughter who refused to cooperate. She was nicely dressed in a long skirt that touched the floor, some sandals, and a nice blouse with an oversized sweater. Her hair was curled, her makeup redone. Desirae was cleaned up, the milk mustache from breakfast vanished. "Hello, hello! Glad you guys could come over!" Susanne cooed, all smiles and friendliness as always. She hugged the mother, shook hands with the father, while Mr Harrison shook hands with both. The brother approached Nathan while he scurried to the table with the plates, his heart jumping into his throat in surprise. He looked lethal. "Y-yeah, pick anywhere you want, the dining room is over here," Nath stammered, embarassed. If he was brave, he would have told the boy that they ate dinners standing up, because it was against his religion to sit down anywhere.
Nathan shared a meek smile with the sister, leading the pair to the elegant dining room. A plate was set at each placement, the silverware and glasses already in place. "And this is our son, Nathan," his mother said warmly, having guided the guests to the dining table. "Hello," nathaniel offered, shaking hands firmly with the father as well as the mother before he was off to the kitchen again. Desirae stood behind her father at all times, in refusal to greet the guests with a pout on her lips. "She's a little shy," his father admitted, pulling his daughter into his arms as he took his place at the head of the table on one side. "All smiles, Nathan, and will you go offer them some wine and that pitcher of water? Thank you," hid mother hummed, in a weirdly good mood. Maybe she was relieved for some new people on the block, a friend or something. "Yes, mom," he sighed diligently, picking up a wine bottle from the rack on the far wall around the corner from the pantry door, carrying it and a pitcher with him.
"Would you like some red wine, or water? We've got sprite, coke, root beer too," Nathan listed, first approaching the burly father. He seemed a little distracted, and Nathaniel couldn't help the pink on his cheeks. This was way out of his comfort zone, he hated his mother for this. His mother catered in the roasted chicken which was still hot from the oven, then a plate of oven fries, then a bowl of peas, corn, and carrots. Then there was the Caesar salad, and the ranch dressing and cruton bag. Dessert remained in the oven, the ice cream in the freezer with the whip cream in the fridge. Nathan was starved, but he had to eat slowly for the guests instead of his usual eats.
Sayor wanted to facepalm. If anything was ruining her chances at being normal it was her cousin. "Hudson knock it off." She said loudly, pushing him forward slightly. Hudson stumbled forward, glancing back at her. "Gosh Say. Where did you get that muscle from?" He asked, amazed. It was surprising that Sayor had Any muscle at all, but that was alright. This kid didnt need to know. Sayor smiled at him, ignoring Hudson protective stare. That boy would be the death of her. The boy in front of her had a shy smile, and he was so cute. He just had this look about him that made Sayor melt like a Popsicle on the Fourth of July. Not that she ever really had a Popsicle. She laughed as he called her ma'am, causing her to roll her eyes slightly. "Ma'am is my mother. Not me."
The boy introduced himself as Nathaniel, making her smile slightly as she shoved Hudson back. He had moved forward once again at her side, staring at Nathan. "Ignore him. Its nice to meet you Nathan. I'm Sayor Dunkley and that's my over protective cousin Hudson Phillips." She said with grin, shaking his hand. His hand was warm, and soft like he hasn't worked a day in his life. That was okay though because she hasn't either.
Nathan led them into the dinning room and that was when Sayor got a little dizzy. She waited until Nathan had left the room before grabbing onto a chair and crouching down, trying to calm the dizzy feeling her head had. Hudson shot over, concerned as he helped her back up. Her parents however were the opposite. "Sayor!" Her mother hissed, glaring at the two. "Knock it off." Sayor gritted her teeth, nodding her head and acting like nothing happened when his family walked in.
His family was happy, introducing themselves and hugging her mother and shaking her fathers hands. Her dad was being a perv like always and discretely checked Nathans mother out, his bloodshot eyes liking what he saw. Sayor elbowed Hudson, nodding her head at her dad, who was then led into the other room. She waved at the little girl, smiling as she crouched down in front of her. "Hello. I'm Sayor." She said lightly, standing when her father spoke. "Its alright. I know how that is." She said with a small grin, sending a sly wink in Nathans way as Hudson came back in the room to walk with her.
Hudson helped her into a chair across from where Nathan was sitting and then he helped himself into one. Her father and his father were at both ends at the table, while the mothers were across from each other as well. "Your house is Lovely" Sayors mother Jay lied, her voice very fake. Sayor sighed, glancing at Nathan when her father pointed to the wine. "Don't give him wine Nathan. Just give him some water. He's already drunk enough." She whispered softly, making sure that her dad would be sober at least in some parts of the dinner. Sayors family was screwed up and she was sure they would figure that out really quick.
The boy introduced himself as Nathaniel, making her smile slightly as she shoved Hudson back. He had moved forward once again at her side, staring at Nathan. "Ignore him. Its nice to meet you Nathan. I'm Sayor Dunkley and that's my over protective cousin Hudson Phillips." She said with grin, shaking his hand. His hand was warm, and soft like he hasn't worked a day in his life. That was okay though because she hasn't either.
Nathan led them into the dinning room and that was when Sayor got a little dizzy. She waited until Nathan had left the room before grabbing onto a chair and crouching down, trying to calm the dizzy feeling her head had. Hudson shot over, concerned as he helped her back up. Her parents however were the opposite. "Sayor!" Her mother hissed, glaring at the two. "Knock it off." Sayor gritted her teeth, nodding her head and acting like nothing happened when his family walked in.
His family was happy, introducing themselves and hugging her mother and shaking her fathers hands. Her dad was being a perv like always and discretely checked Nathans mother out, his bloodshot eyes liking what he saw. Sayor elbowed Hudson, nodding her head at her dad, who was then led into the other room. She waved at the little girl, smiling as she crouched down in front of her. "Hello. I'm Sayor." She said lightly, standing when her father spoke. "Its alright. I know how that is." She said with a small grin, sending a sly wink in Nathans way as Hudson came back in the room to walk with her.
Hudson helped her into a chair across from where Nathan was sitting and then he helped himself into one. Her father and his father were at both ends at the table, while the mothers were across from each other as well. "Your house is Lovely" Sayors mother Jay lied, her voice very fake. Sayor sighed, glancing at Nathan when her father pointed to the wine. "Don't give him wine Nathan. Just give him some water. He's already drunk enough." She whispered softly, making sure that her dad would be sober at least in some parts of the dinner. Sayors family was screwed up and she was sure they would figure that out really quick.
"Well then, Miss ," he corrected himself, unable to help the pink that invaded his face. It would get worse than the color of Desiraes dress soon if he didn't get himself together. The girl was pretty cute, and seemed nice enough to begin with. Maybe they could hang out later, if the dinner went well. Names were exchanged and Nathan nodded, repeating them in his head twice to make sure. "Sayor, and Hudson," he shook each hand, a bit confused why Sayors cousin would be here as well, but whatever. Maybe he was just in toen, and would leave later so he wouldn't have to worry about facing Hudson Everytime he wanted to talk to Sayor. He and Hudson exchanged glances, and it was enough to send Nathaniel out of there as soon as Sayor had found a seat.When he came back with the wine and water, he heard a soft voice by his ear. Sayor. His brown eyes flickered over to meet her kind ones, his head bobbing as he set the wind bottle down on the table and hoisted the pitcher. "Good call," nathaniel grimaced, before pouring Mister Dunkly a nice cold water refreshment. He allowed the mother to have both, before pouring his own mother's glass first and then filling his fathers. Desirae had water, as did the rest of the underaged in the room, and Nathaniel kept the wine bottle by his father's seat for safekeeping. It was hard to believe that sayors father was already drunk. It was rude in his opinion, and if his mother knew, she'd throw him out of the house. Her own guest, yes.
When Nathan took his seat beside Desirae, his mother had been cheerfully making small talk across the table with Sayors mother, talking about how they had rebuilt this house themselves just before Nathaniel was born. With his father running a wealthy company for selling homes, the family got on exceptionally well with frugal spending and his mother's dentist job. "Nath, will you bless the meal?" His father cleared his throat, all eyes turning towards him as his cheeks became red. "Sure," he mumbled, folding his hands as his blood rushed to his ears. Man. What was he gonna say? Nathaniel cleared his throat, his voice soft spoken and gentle. "Dear Lord, we thank thee for the food, and for our neighbors, we thank thee that we are blessed another day, please help us to all be friends, Amen," Nathan babbled, his face hot when he finished. His family finished off with a chorus of Amens, before his mother served the food on their end of the table to Desirae and her husband, leaving Nathan to get for himself.
He sat across from Sayor, who he shared a crooked half smile with before he reached for the baked and buttered potatoes in their tinfoil. He grabbed helpings of every dish on the dining table, eventually getting started on his meal quietly. His father brought up conversation topics hoping to interest the Dunkleys, struggling at some points to keep the silence away. Eventually, the conversation simply had turned between the Harrisons, his father praising his mother's cooking and sharing his successful day with Desirae and his son. Nathan found himself often not paying attention to his father, instead wiggling his eyebrows at Sayor from across the table while he chewed on his bread roll. They'd been exchanging weird faces for a while, a mutual connection between the two. Desirae hardly ate, with complain that her chest felt too tight, and Nathaniel let her be after urging her to take a few bites. He didn't want a breathing attack, not during dinner, not ever.
Sayor watched her father carefully, the creepy man who couldn't keep his eyes off of Mrs. Harrison. She was really grossed out to be honest, and one look at her mother said that she saw the looks as well. Say could tell that it would be yet another sleepless night. A long, dull, awful sleepless night. Sayor smiled slightly at him, thanking him quietly. "Thanks." As he started to walk away, she realized that her parents would not be this well behaved all night..she might as well appologize for it now. "Nathaniel.." She whispered, touching his arm gently so she could speak to him really fast. "I want to apologize in advance for my um parents. They are messed up people, and I promise Hudson and I aren't like that..okay?" She said softly feeling Hudsons gaze on her. For the first time in a long time she didn't want anyone to think she was the same as her mother. For the first time, she cared what Nathan thought. It was weird, strange, and Sayor didn't want it to happen again.
Sayor was silent as the adults spoke and then Nathan's family did something that her family never did. They were going to pray. Oh gosh. Sayor automatically felt out of her element. She was going to get an ear full of this at home. Her heart sank. Oh it was going to be horrible. Sayor and Hudson polietly folded their hands, looking down as Nathan began to pray. Her parents on the other hand just watched, her mothers face filled with disapproval. Sayor took a deep breath, kicking her dad under the table, causing him to look down to find the source, just as the prayer finished. Hudson had done the same thing, so the Harrisons would never know how rude and impolite her family was. Thank heavens. She exchanged a relieved look with Hudson, both letting out a deep breath. Disaster one averted. Hopefully there wouldn't be a lot more.
Sayor watched as the food was passed around, Hudson busy getting her plate and his while she got her dads. Everyonce and a while he would nudge her, pointing to the food item and asking her if she could stomach it. The potato was a no. Most of the meal was a no. She ended up only having a few things on her plate, and small helpings at that. She wasn't picky, just couldnt keep a lot of stuff down. She was done with her chemotherapy, thank heavens, and she had been done with the medicene that made her hair fall out a long time ago, but she was still on a bunch of other crap. Even if she was done with her Chemotherapy, it still had these long term sucky effects that Sayor hated. She just wished she could be cancer free for another really, really, really long time.
Sayor giggled softly as Nathan continued to make faces at her, and she made them right back. He was really cute and nice. She hadn't talked to anyone like him in a while. It was refreshing. He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing her to smile big. In return, she went cross eyed, her cheeks slightly full of air. Hudson told her one time that it was all right to make faces at boys, but you had to make attractive ones or else you would scare him away. Hudson only told her tips when a girl did that to him. He was funny like that. Honestly, Sayor really liked this kid, so she was going to follow every single one of the tips her cousin had told her.
There was a pause in the conversation, all eyes on Sayors father. Hudson was on his feet, immediatley taking her father by the arm and leading out. She had totally just missed all of that. What happened? Her mother was appologizing for his rude behavior and innapropriate remarks. What had he said? The mood at the dinner table changed after that, and Sayor wanted to melt into a puddle. Hudson returned 10 minutes later, fatherless. Hudson had taken him home. "I am so sorry about that Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. He never should have come. Period. And if it was up to Sayor and I, he wouldn't have." Hudson said softly, taking his seat at the dinner table once more. Sayor shot Nathan a really apologetic look, hardly able to look him in the eyes. "What did he say?" She whispered, leaning over to him. "He said that Mrs. Harrisons food was almost as good as her body." He whispered, causing her mouth to fall open. Her cheeks turned a bright red and she couldn't even look at Nathan. Any chance she had of being friends with him was gone. She was dead meat.
Sayor was silent as the adults spoke and then Nathan's family did something that her family never did. They were going to pray. Oh gosh. Sayor automatically felt out of her element. She was going to get an ear full of this at home. Her heart sank. Oh it was going to be horrible. Sayor and Hudson polietly folded their hands, looking down as Nathan began to pray. Her parents on the other hand just watched, her mothers face filled with disapproval. Sayor took a deep breath, kicking her dad under the table, causing him to look down to find the source, just as the prayer finished. Hudson had done the same thing, so the Harrisons would never know how rude and impolite her family was. Thank heavens. She exchanged a relieved look with Hudson, both letting out a deep breath. Disaster one averted. Hopefully there wouldn't be a lot more.
Sayor watched as the food was passed around, Hudson busy getting her plate and his while she got her dads. Everyonce and a while he would nudge her, pointing to the food item and asking her if she could stomach it. The potato was a no. Most of the meal was a no. She ended up only having a few things on her plate, and small helpings at that. She wasn't picky, just couldnt keep a lot of stuff down. She was done with her chemotherapy, thank heavens, and she had been done with the medicene that made her hair fall out a long time ago, but she was still on a bunch of other crap. Even if she was done with her Chemotherapy, it still had these long term sucky effects that Sayor hated. She just wished she could be cancer free for another really, really, really long time.
Sayor giggled softly as Nathan continued to make faces at her, and she made them right back. He was really cute and nice. She hadn't talked to anyone like him in a while. It was refreshing. He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing her to smile big. In return, she went cross eyed, her cheeks slightly full of air. Hudson told her one time that it was all right to make faces at boys, but you had to make attractive ones or else you would scare him away. Hudson only told her tips when a girl did that to him. He was funny like that. Honestly, Sayor really liked this kid, so she was going to follow every single one of the tips her cousin had told her.
There was a pause in the conversation, all eyes on Sayors father. Hudson was on his feet, immediatley taking her father by the arm and leading out. She had totally just missed all of that. What happened? Her mother was appologizing for his rude behavior and innapropriate remarks. What had he said? The mood at the dinner table changed after that, and Sayor wanted to melt into a puddle. Hudson returned 10 minutes later, fatherless. Hudson had taken him home. "I am so sorry about that Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. He never should have come. Period. And if it was up to Sayor and I, he wouldn't have." Hudson said softly, taking his seat at the dinner table once more. Sayor shot Nathan a really apologetic look, hardly able to look him in the eyes. "What did he say?" She whispered, leaning over to him. "He said that Mrs. Harrisons food was almost as good as her body." He whispered, causing her mouth to fall open. Her cheeks turned a bright red and she couldn't even look at Nathan. Any chance she had of being friends with him was gone. She was dead meat.
Sayor had held him aside for a few extra seconds and whispered to him, what she said he found interesting. He sort of ducked his head to her height, listening intently and nodding. "Im sorry, Sayor... I believe you," he smiled gently, taking her hand from hid arm and squeezing it gently. He left sayors side, his neck red from blushing about their little private conversation with Hudson easing in on them. What was his deal over Sayor anyway? It stil struck him as odd that she would apologize like that, obviously his mother thought they were great people, otherwise she wouldn't have invited the Dunkleys over for dinner at all. He was still left wondering how bad her parents could be as he seated himself at the table, the smells of roasted chicken and buttered rolls making want to drool. As they were making their plates, he found himself waiting for the chicken that his mother sliced, dishing out pieces to whoever wanted it. She had really outdone herself, for why he couldnt fathom. His eyes caught Sayor shaking her head to Hudson, and soon he understood the communication. Sayor was saying yes or no to the foods he discreetly pointed to, and she could hardly eat much at all. Her plate was not even half full, and Sayor started to eat. It left Nathaniel with questions, but he would wait until after dinner to ask her. Maybe she was allergic, or worse, gluten free. Maybe she wasn't hungry, or maybe just really picky. He didn't mind, since Desirae was the same too. He wouldn't be offended that Sayor hardly ate much at the table.
Nathaniel enjoyed the faces they exchanged across the table, with Hudson often glaring on as well. Desirae giggled at some of her brothers faces, her smile vanishing whenever one of the guests looked at her. He was impressed with the cross eyed one, even prouder of his next one. One eye looked straight at Sayor, and the other one slowly wiggled to the right. A lazy eye. He couldn't hold it for long as his head began to hurt, but it was worth it. "Nathan...," his mother sighed, peering over at him snickering. She just wished Desirae could eat and stop watching her brother... Nathan finished off his vegetables and meat in a few scoops, before digging at the potato. He occasionally looked up to Sayor and winked saucily, raised his eyebrows, then struggled to think of other original faces in between. He liked Sayor lots, and he didn't realizes that their face game was considered flirting, that the way they exchanged smiles was flirting. He was new to the world of romance.
Nathan had just been encouraging Desirae to make the silliest face she could with silent directions so his parents wouldn't scold them, which basically consisted of Desirae scrunching her little nose as much as she could with her eyes shut tightly, and her tongue stuck out. Nathaniel mimicked her face for Sayor, the three of them in bursts of giggles as the silemce fell around the table amongst the adults. At first Nath had thought it was their behavior, but seeing how Hudson and Nathaniel's parents reacted, it was something they missed. His mother's face was bright red, her eyes glaring into her Plate with some sort of embarassment. His father looked a wee bit defensive over his wife, reaching out on the table to take her hand. Hudson was clearly as embarassed as his aunt was, the father looking ever so pleased with himself.
"Mom...?" Nathan said slowly, with Desirae in between them. His little sister had stood up on her chair fitted with a booster seat, her arm around her mother's shoulders as she asked sweetly in that innocent voice what was wrong, why everyone was so mad. Hudson left with his uncle soon after, the sound of a vehicle starting outside. They were leaving... Nathaniel exchanged now worried glances eith Sayor, entirely confused. He couldn't finish the rest of his meal with the awkward atmoshpere, his mother soon excusing herself against his father's protests. Desirae began to inhale deeply with the stress, her eyebrows furrowed over bright eyes. "Des," he whispered softly, pulling his redhead sister to his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, one hand rubbing her back as he murmured comforts to her. "It's okay, just breathe, nothings wrong," he convinced, eventually the little girl in his lap able to calm down.
His mother returned to the table looking a little better, taking her seat and lifting Desirae into her arms. Nathaniel looked over at Sayor , before he heard Hudson enter. An apology was declared, and by the way Hudson was talking, what happened couldn't have been good at all. The entire family turned to attention, looking up keenly at Hudson with anxious stares to see if the father would come back in again. No. "It's perfectly fine, Hudson, don't worry about it... at least it was a compliment," his mother faltered, attempting a laugh. "Have a seat, let's finish our dinner now," Mr Harrison pushed up his own glasses, taking a deep breath and relaxing once more with a sip of his wine. Hudson whispered to Sayor as table conversation picked up again, and he strained to hear what Hudson said to Sayor. She was absolutely stunned, her cheeks bright red as she looked down at the table. Nathan nudged her foot under the dining table with his shoe, looking at her expectantly. What did he say? he mouthed, frequenting glances between his parents to make sure they weren't watching.
Sayor watched as a plate of chicken was passes around, the smell of it making her feel dizzy. It looked yummy, but..she knew she wouldn't be able to keep it down. Not the Chicken, the potatoes..basically anything she enjoyed eating. She couldn't hold down. Jayline leaned back sligthly, reaching behind Hudson and tapping Sayor's shoulder. "You are not going to refuse to eat Suzanne's food either Sayor Rae. Now. Get some more food." She hissed, causing Sayor to look down, ashamed as she took a couple more things that she wouldn't even touch. Her mother smiled fakely at Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, asking Mr. Harrison about his hobbies. Sayor didnt really care to listen to their crappy and fake conversation. It didnt matter to her.
Sayor giggled at their faces, glancing at Hudson's quiet and reserved expression. She held up a finger, guesturing for Nathan to wait a moment. Sayor whispered to Hudson for a moment, pulling out a puppy dog face for at least 30 seconds before Hudson gave into what she was asking. They she grinned, both her and Hudson placing their elbows onto the table and their finger by their mouths. At the same time they stuck their thumbs into their mouths, pulling their mouths back a little and used their forefingers to pull the skin under their eye down. It didnt last long, both becomming quietly reserved when the adults looked over at them. Nathan had to like that one.
At this point Hudson had lightened up, winking and waving at little redheaded Des, chuckling lightly to himself as Sayor and Nathan made faces. Sayor almost choked on a carrot when he pulled that lazy eye on her, and she spent the next five seconds cough laughing. That was golden. Honestly, he won the prize. No competition. He was the winner. Hudson chuckled rolling his eyes as he watched Sayor try to play it cool, making a silly face at Des. The Dunkley kids were the most friendly and kind people you would ever meet. Sayor and Hudson were so unlike the poeple that were raising them. It was insane. Hudson had made it a habit to walk around their old neighboorhood and purchase 20 dollars worth of lemonade of whatever kid sold it. Sayor was just nice. Always happy and smiling. It was surprising to everyone who knew her back story.
Sayor picked at her food, exchanging a worried glance with Nathan, watching as his mother left the room. Oh no. Her dad had begun to openly flirt with her. Hadn't he. It was obvious by how protective Mr. Harrison had become, how quiet her mother had grown. Oh no. Sayor waited until Hudson apologized, both Mr. and Mrs. Harrison shaking it off. When she heard what her father said she wanted to die. Plain and simple. Could the cancer come back and kill her now? Please because nothing could get worse than this. Sayor refused to look at Nathan, and waited until his third foot nudge to look up. He hasn't heard it either apparently. Good.
I'll tell you later. She mouthed, guesturing towards the awkwardly chatting adults. The rest of the dinner went by smoothy and as everyone began to finish Sayor and Hudson both stood, collecting plates. Sayor glanced at Nathan and nodded, her signal to him that she would tell him. She was insane. Nathan would never look at her again..but she couldn't lie. He would hear about it from his parents she was sure. Hudson made sure her load was light as they walked into the kitchen washing and putting food away. Anything to get out of that atmosphere. "Nathan.." She whispered, waving for him to come back. Now was the time to tell him. She could kiss any sign of being friends goodbye.
((Sorry if it twas shorter))
Sayor giggled at their faces, glancing at Hudson's quiet and reserved expression. She held up a finger, guesturing for Nathan to wait a moment. Sayor whispered to Hudson for a moment, pulling out a puppy dog face for at least 30 seconds before Hudson gave into what she was asking. They she grinned, both her and Hudson placing their elbows onto the table and their finger by their mouths. At the same time they stuck their thumbs into their mouths, pulling their mouths back a little and used their forefingers to pull the skin under their eye down. It didnt last long, both becomming quietly reserved when the adults looked over at them. Nathan had to like that one.
At this point Hudson had lightened up, winking and waving at little redheaded Des, chuckling lightly to himself as Sayor and Nathan made faces. Sayor almost choked on a carrot when he pulled that lazy eye on her, and she spent the next five seconds cough laughing. That was golden. Honestly, he won the prize. No competition. He was the winner. Hudson chuckled rolling his eyes as he watched Sayor try to play it cool, making a silly face at Des. The Dunkley kids were the most friendly and kind people you would ever meet. Sayor and Hudson were so unlike the poeple that were raising them. It was insane. Hudson had made it a habit to walk around their old neighboorhood and purchase 20 dollars worth of lemonade of whatever kid sold it. Sayor was just nice. Always happy and smiling. It was surprising to everyone who knew her back story.
Sayor picked at her food, exchanging a worried glance with Nathan, watching as his mother left the room. Oh no. Her dad had begun to openly flirt with her. Hadn't he. It was obvious by how protective Mr. Harrison had become, how quiet her mother had grown. Oh no. Sayor waited until Hudson apologized, both Mr. and Mrs. Harrison shaking it off. When she heard what her father said she wanted to die. Plain and simple. Could the cancer come back and kill her now? Please because nothing could get worse than this. Sayor refused to look at Nathan, and waited until his third foot nudge to look up. He hasn't heard it either apparently. Good.
I'll tell you later. She mouthed, guesturing towards the awkwardly chatting adults. The rest of the dinner went by smoothy and as everyone began to finish Sayor and Hudson both stood, collecting plates. Sayor glanced at Nathan and nodded, her signal to him that she would tell him. She was insane. Nathan would never look at her again..but she couldn't lie. He would hear about it from his parents she was sure. Hudson made sure her load was light as they walked into the kitchen washing and putting food away. Anything to get out of that atmosphere. "Nathan.." She whispered, waving for him to come back. Now was the time to tell him. She could kiss any sign of being friends goodbye.
((Sorry if it twas shorter))
Nathaniel pretended not to witness sayors mother scolding her daughter, his eyes averted as he picked off the rest of the insides from his potato skin with his fork, glancing up frequently to watch Sayor. She seemed upset by whatever her mother had said, her eyes kept low as she helped herself to more food. Their parents conversed together, his mother genuinely interested in getting to know Mrs Dunkley, while his father was quiet as usual. It was obvious who Nathan inherited his qualities from. Desirae sat in her booster seat, smacking her lips as she struggled with the thickness of the buttery small potato. "Des, you sure about that?" He sat forward, alarm in his tone as he inspected her full, bulging mouth. She had breathing isssues, and after hearing her complain about her chest being too tight, he wasn't sure it was a good idea for his sister to be eating mashed potatoes. She couldn't choke on anything. She wouldn't make it if she did. Des bobbed her head cheerily, the top knot of red bouncing on top of her head has she continued to chew. Nathan settled with a sigh into his seat, constantly checking up on her. He realized that he was no different than Hudson, that maybe it was just a brother thing to do. The silly faces had been the overall highlight of the night for the kids, their parents trying to ignore the bad manners on both sides of the table as they talked about golf and properties with showers with water that came from the ceiling. Nathan so desperately wished the four could go back to joking around again after Hudson returned, unable to make himself even give Sayor a good smile. Desirae had eaten most her chicken, but now scrambled at her peas with a pout. It seemed like a damper had been settled over the entire household, which was a shame. Nathaniel had been having a good time with Sayor too. Now Sayor wouldn't even look up at him, no matter how many times he jostled her foot. He peered over at her through his glasses expecting when at last she looked up, disappointed when she told him she'd tell him later. When was later.
The conversation died down as they finished eating, Nathaniel following Sayor and Hudson with his plates and his parents, as well as sayors mothers. Desirae was stubborn about letting her food go, even though she was merely picking at the veggies with the prongs of her fork. He met Sayor and Hudson at the sink waving them away from the dishwasher. "I got it," he promised, pushing up his sleeves as he began to briskly rinse off the food and stick plates and utensils in the dishwasher. His mother had already pulled out the pie and ice cream and whipcream, partially as an incentive for Desirae to stop messing around and getting on her mother's nerves. Nathaniel heard Sayor whisper his name and wave him over, away from the kitchen where his mother scrambled to find a smaller spoon for Des' ice cream. "Yeah?" Nathan approached her, wiping his hands dry on the dish towel. He held it in his hands, before remembering what he was to be told, later.
(view spoiler)
Sayor was really ashamed of her family. Her mother, openly forcing her to eat food that would becoming up again later. Hudson clentched his fists discretely, grinding his teeth. Hudson was so overprotective. He wasn't so bad when he first came to live with them because his parents died. That was because she had been cancer free for two years and was offically in the clear! Two years after that she passed out, was bruising easily and showing all the signs. That was when he freaked out. Everytime she went to get her monthy shots, the pills, a catscan, he freaked out. Freaked out. Became all big brother bear and wouldn't let anyone near her. It just made Sayor roll her eyes. She would never admit it to him because his ego would receive a huge boost, but..she liked it. It made her feel like at least one person in her crazy mixed up world loved her and wanted her around. It was nice.
The rest of the dinner was horrible, her mother attmepting to redeem herself with her neighbors. The Harrisons lived three houses down, close enough that they would hear her screetching and yelling. The throwing of vases. Even if her mother got them to like her here, it would be gone the moment they got home. Judging by how badly it was going here, it was not going to be good. Sayor jumped at the chance to get out of that atmosphere, even if it required doing dished. Sayor would do anything. They carried the dishes into the kitchen hurridly, both rinising off their dishes and loading them into the dishwasher. They might as well help. Sayor hated watching people work to serve her. It was just annoying.
"You gonna tell him?" Hudson whispered in her ear before Nathan had joined them in the kitchen. "Yes." She whispered back, both falling silent when he walked in. Nathan waved them away from the dishwasher, causing Sayor to raise her eyebrows. She stood there as Hudson went back into the dinning room, talking with Mr. Harrison about what he wanted to do in the future. Ew. Sayor was probably going to talk about hers next. "I can help." She said stubbornly, putting food away and handing him the dishes. She was about to tell him when his mother walked in and that was so not happening. She was not going to make his mother relive the dirty I need a shower feeling that her father often brought. Sayor even got it. Her dad was the biggest creep on the planet.
Sayor left the room when his mother waved her off, insisting that she enjoy herself and be a guest. It was hard to enjoy it in that atmosphere..golly. She stood out in the hallway, waving to Nathan. Now was later apparently. He came over, wiping his hands on a towel. She grinned, waving him back further feeling like she was in one of those romcoms when the girl seductively lured the guy into a hallway before they made out. Sayor and Nath weren't going to make out...but she really couldn't help herself. She watched too many chickflicks. They were standing in the hallway, a small smirk on her face before it faded as she realized what she was going to tell him. Well..that could wait a minute. "I felt like having a secret rendezvous in the hallway." Sayor giggled softly to herself, finding what she was doing totally hilarious. Yeah..she watched way to many.
After a moment of silence Sayor cleared her throat. "So before I tell you what my drunk, idiotic, stupid, dumb father said to your mother, you have to promise you won't hate me forever." Sayor said with a determined nod, making sure she wouldn't lose her best friend. Well it wasnt offical or anything but Sayor didn't care. She just decided that they would be best friends until they died. Well..she died. She would probably be the one to die first and that was fine. Whatever. Didn't matter. When he promised, she took a deep breath, lowering her voice to a whisper. "He said that her cooking was almost as good as her body..."
The rest of the dinner was horrible, her mother attmepting to redeem herself with her neighbors. The Harrisons lived three houses down, close enough that they would hear her screetching and yelling. The throwing of vases. Even if her mother got them to like her here, it would be gone the moment they got home. Judging by how badly it was going here, it was not going to be good. Sayor jumped at the chance to get out of that atmosphere, even if it required doing dished. Sayor would do anything. They carried the dishes into the kitchen hurridly, both rinising off their dishes and loading them into the dishwasher. They might as well help. Sayor hated watching people work to serve her. It was just annoying.
"You gonna tell him?" Hudson whispered in her ear before Nathan had joined them in the kitchen. "Yes." She whispered back, both falling silent when he walked in. Nathan waved them away from the dishwasher, causing Sayor to raise her eyebrows. She stood there as Hudson went back into the dinning room, talking with Mr. Harrison about what he wanted to do in the future. Ew. Sayor was probably going to talk about hers next. "I can help." She said stubbornly, putting food away and handing him the dishes. She was about to tell him when his mother walked in and that was so not happening. She was not going to make his mother relive the dirty I need a shower feeling that her father often brought. Sayor even got it. Her dad was the biggest creep on the planet.
Sayor left the room when his mother waved her off, insisting that she enjoy herself and be a guest. It was hard to enjoy it in that atmosphere..golly. She stood out in the hallway, waving to Nathan. Now was later apparently. He came over, wiping his hands on a towel. She grinned, waving him back further feeling like she was in one of those romcoms when the girl seductively lured the guy into a hallway before they made out. Sayor and Nath weren't going to make out...but she really couldn't help herself. She watched too many chickflicks. They were standing in the hallway, a small smirk on her face before it faded as she realized what she was going to tell him. Well..that could wait a minute. "I felt like having a secret rendezvous in the hallway." Sayor giggled softly to herself, finding what she was doing totally hilarious. Yeah..she watched way to many.
After a moment of silence Sayor cleared her throat. "So before I tell you what my drunk, idiotic, stupid, dumb father said to your mother, you have to promise you won't hate me forever." Sayor said with a determined nod, making sure she wouldn't lose her best friend. Well it wasnt offical or anything but Sayor didn't care. She just decided that they would be best friends until they died. Well..she died. She would probably be the one to die first and that was fine. Whatever. Didn't matter. When he promised, she took a deep breath, lowering her voice to a whisper. "He said that her cooking was almost as good as her body..."
Nathaniel peeled off from the kitchen, sneaking away from his mother to slide into the hallways with Sayor. It was a bit risky, but his parents knew he was a good kid. Still, it made his heart pound, his cheeks flushed pink when he caught sayors eyes. He leaned up against the wall, his fingers toying with the drying towel he had taken with him. Nath stood several inches taller than Sayor, even propped against the wall beside her. His cheeks darkened and he looked down at his shoes, his other foot touching the half undone lace. "I know, it's so weird," he whispered back with a small laugh. Nathaniel ran a hand through his brown hair, letting it stick up naturally in a pouf in the front as was the fashion to do lately. He removed his black rimmed glasses, letting his eyes rest for a few moments while he talked to sayor. He could still see, she was just a bit fuzzy, and the pattern on her dress made him dizzy to focus on. In the kitchen around the corner, his mother closed the oven with the pies, retreating to the dining room cheerily as if nothing had happened. He turned his focus back to Sayor as she cleared her throat, his brown eyes attempting to focus on her. What she said took him a bit surprsied, as he wasn't sure how big of a deal the fact was. "I'd never hate you forever, Sayor," Nath automatically let his lips turn upwards in a half smile that his father had. He had to admit he was plenty nervous, what could have been said that was so bad that Sayor had thought he'd disown her? He didn't believe in judging others based on the environment they lived in. And Sayor apparently didnt have that great of parents. His jaw visibly dropped as his fingers stopped twisting the entire towel with both hands. He didn't know what to think. The terrible pick up line was funny, he had to admit, but it wasn't appropriate to laugh at. Besides, it had been directed to his mother.
Nathaniel's mouth twisted into an O, a steady whistle declining in pitch trailing from his lips. Man. "He said that...?" Nathan asked in disbelief, shocked and yet a bit entertained. No wonder his mother had been so humiliated and red in the face, and his father had looked so defensive. Nath knew it was nowhere near Sayors fault, and with the way she looked at him with fear that he'd not want to talk to her motivated him to comfort her. "Your dad's a little crazy," he sighed, resuming his busy work with the towel to keep himself from looking at Sayor and blushing like some fool. "It's not a big deal," he sighed, slightly embarassed that such thing had been said to someone as lovely as his mother. He just hoped his parents let him hang out with sayor, maybe even Hudson.
"Nathaniel-? Sayor?" Susannes voice echoed from the kitchen, as the woman came in hot pursuit of the two children. She didn't know how she felt about her son being friendly with the younger girl, although she supposed the children were alright. The parents, she had lost hope on. The mother didn't seem interested, and after the husband's remark, it was going to be a difficult night. Susanne shrugged figuring she'd leave it to Nathaniel to do whatever he was with Sayor, knowing full well that her son would not be making out with a new girl during dessert. He was probably showing her the animals, or around the house. Susanne sat back in the dining room, cutting slices of pie for those who remained. "Where's nath? And Sailor?" Desirae asked with her fingers in her mouth, her reddish brown eyebrows knitted with confusion as she looked around frantically for her new friend and her brother. The family began in on their pie and ice cream, the conversation having g dwindled down to what the mother enjoyed doing in her spare time.
Sayor thought it was so cute how nervous Nathan was. He was acting like they were sneaking off to rob a bank, not talking about the inappropriate comments her father was famous for. A lot of things didn't really bug her. She was a very tollerent person who never really argued or disagreed with anyone, until they started A) Assuming that she was justl like her parents B) Calling her useless because of her cancer or C) Making fun of other people. Her biggest fear right then was Nathaniel Harrison assuming she was the same as her dear old father, and her precious mother. Really though, just the idea made her so angry. Sayor couldn't believe his parents though. They were so kind and so nice that it was just...startling. And forgiving. If Sayor was his mother she would have kicked them all out by then. Actually, she would have never intvited them over. Period. Except for Hudson and herself of course because they were the only decent ones in the family. Hudsons parents were real sweethearts though. HIs dad was such a jolly guy, and his mom an angel. When they died, it was like Sayor lost her parents. The only adult people in her life who actually cared whether she recovered from her battle with cancer. It sucked. "No, its adventurous." Sayor replied with a smirk at his its so weird. It's not weird to have a secret rendezvous in the hallway unless you make it weird.
Nathan looked different without his glasses on she noticed, watching him intently. He looked really good with both on, but...she liked the glasses a little bit more. Made him look smart and mature. Like a professor or one of her doctors. Actually..he could take the glasses off whenever he wanted to. He seemed a little surprised when Say asked him to not hate her forever. Sayor honestly would rather be safe than sorry. She was one of the few people in the world that still trusted peoples word. Actually believing that they would stick to it. Weird huh? She was screwed up really. Sayor was. She could be a total negitive nancy one day, and then turn around and be a positive polly the next, but she fit her screwed up life actually. She fit it very well. She wished she didn't. "Okay. You have said it, your word is in stone, you can't back down, you can't hate me. Its all final." She confirmed, her trademark smirk gone. This was serious buisness, really..Sayor almost felt like she needed a lawyer.
Sayor bit her lip after she told him, his mouth falling open almost visably. She nodded, fiddling with her dress. She really didn't mind the thing..it was just annoying. She couldn't cross her legs or sit like she normally did. Nope. And she couldn't fold her arms so that was awkward. The sleeves were so tight she could hardly move. At his question, she nodded, rocking back and forth on her heels slightly. "Yup. My dad said that to your mother while your father, sister, you, my mother, me, and my cousin were all pressent." She said softly, watching him with caution as she braced herself for the horrified looks and ignoring...that never came. What? "Wait..you serious? My dads a lot more than crazy. My dad is screwed up, so is my mom. She's just better at hiding it." She shrugged slightly, her eyes going a little wider as he told her it was no big deal. If he could overlook that then..man. He was amazing. "Dude..you just earned a spot as my new best friend." She said seriously, smiling. "thanks."
Sayor glanced back towards the kitchen as she heard his mothers voice calling out to them. "Better go. Thanks for coming to the secret meeting." She said with a wink, her smirk back on her face as she sauntered out, having way to much fun messing with him. He was just so cute, so sweet, and unlike any other guy she had ever met. She almost liked him better than Hudson in some ways. She walked into the kitchen just as they began the ice cream and pie. Yum. She took her seat next to Hudson just as her mother started the Cancer story. Oh joy. Now it was some kind of a story to get her mother sympathy and likes. That really kind of pissed her off. "I don't really have a spare time because of my job and the time I spend taking care of my dear sweet Sayor while she is in the hospital for Cancer treatment. Its very hard for me to let her suffer on her own, so I try my hardest to be there for her." When this reached Sayors ears she snorted quietly, rolling her eyes. "Yeah right." She whispered in a soft mutter, finding herself very amused with this buttload of crap her mother was trying to sell.
Nathan looked different without his glasses on she noticed, watching him intently. He looked really good with both on, but...she liked the glasses a little bit more. Made him look smart and mature. Like a professor or one of her doctors. Actually..he could take the glasses off whenever he wanted to. He seemed a little surprised when Say asked him to not hate her forever. Sayor honestly would rather be safe than sorry. She was one of the few people in the world that still trusted peoples word. Actually believing that they would stick to it. Weird huh? She was screwed up really. Sayor was. She could be a total negitive nancy one day, and then turn around and be a positive polly the next, but she fit her screwed up life actually. She fit it very well. She wished she didn't. "Okay. You have said it, your word is in stone, you can't back down, you can't hate me. Its all final." She confirmed, her trademark smirk gone. This was serious buisness, really..Sayor almost felt like she needed a lawyer.
Sayor bit her lip after she told him, his mouth falling open almost visably. She nodded, fiddling with her dress. She really didn't mind the thing..it was just annoying. She couldn't cross her legs or sit like she normally did. Nope. And she couldn't fold her arms so that was awkward. The sleeves were so tight she could hardly move. At his question, she nodded, rocking back and forth on her heels slightly. "Yup. My dad said that to your mother while your father, sister, you, my mother, me, and my cousin were all pressent." She said softly, watching him with caution as she braced herself for the horrified looks and ignoring...that never came. What? "Wait..you serious? My dads a lot more than crazy. My dad is screwed up, so is my mom. She's just better at hiding it." She shrugged slightly, her eyes going a little wider as he told her it was no big deal. If he could overlook that then..man. He was amazing. "Dude..you just earned a spot as my new best friend." She said seriously, smiling. "thanks."
Sayor glanced back towards the kitchen as she heard his mothers voice calling out to them. "Better go. Thanks for coming to the secret meeting." She said with a wink, her smirk back on her face as she sauntered out, having way to much fun messing with him. He was just so cute, so sweet, and unlike any other guy she had ever met. She almost liked him better than Hudson in some ways. She walked into the kitchen just as they began the ice cream and pie. Yum. She took her seat next to Hudson just as her mother started the Cancer story. Oh joy. Now it was some kind of a story to get her mother sympathy and likes. That really kind of pissed her off. "I don't really have a spare time because of my job and the time I spend taking care of my dear sweet Sayor while she is in the hospital for Cancer treatment. Its very hard for me to let her suffer on her own, so I try my hardest to be there for her." When this reached Sayors ears she snorted quietly, rolling her eyes. "Yeah right." She whispered in a soft mutter, finding herself very amused with this buttload of crap her mother was trying to sell.
Nathaniel didn't see why Sayor was fussing so much about what she was about to tell him, saying how he couldnt hate her or how his word was final, that there was no going back on it. He gave her a quizzical look, hinted with amusement that twinkled in his brown eyes. Her expression had turned serious now, all the humour and joking around having fizzled out into this. "Sayor... I'm not gonna hate you," Nathan said slowly, a bit hesitant now that she was making a big deal out of it. Turned out, Sayor had just been dramatizing it all, or anticipated much worse of his reaction. Sayor had looked down at the floor and played with her dress with embarassment, her eyes averted from his gaze. "He's so weird," Nathaniel wrinkled his nose, not for a moment thinking to back away from Sayor or call her a freak for being part of the family she was. It really wasn't her fault that her parents were screwed up, he wouldn't blame her. He actually felt pretty bad thst she had to deal with such people in her life constantly. "Serious about what? I don't take things too seriously, besides, my family is pretty tolerant with everyone," Nathaniel promised. No doubt, his mother wouldn't be inviting the family over again, but she'd most likely have Sayor and her cousin come visit a few times to keep her own children occupied on the block. "For what?" Nathan laughed softly, sayors grin contagious as he soon mirrored a toothy smile. His mother's voice echoed into the hallway where they were having their secret rendezvous, their whispers ceasing as she summoned them for dessert with the family. "Yeah, we should... it's between us," he winked, tip toeing with exaggeration to try and pull off being a spy. Together, they walked into the dining room where the sugary whiffs of apple pie, cinammon, and vanilla bean ice cream greeted him. His mother really knew how to have guest over. "Nathy!" Desiraes troubled brown eyes widened as she sat up in her seat, a white mustache over her lip as she dug at her plastic bowl of ice cream, pie, and whipped cream slowly. She'd been waiting for him to come back, but had eventually given up and taken to devouring more dessert than her dinner. "Hey," Nathan greeted his sister cheerily, pulling out his chair to sit down again.
His father and mother looked at him, then Sayor, then at each other with ideas blossoming in their heads as to what Nathan could possibly have been doing with the girl out of sight. They didn't like it much, didn't trust the girl to be a good influence with the way her father was and how rude her mother was coming off as. Of course they couldn't say for sure that Sayor would be bad for their son, but they had to be careful. Nathaniel took no notice, having nothing to be embarassed about even when his parents stared at him and sayor upon their entry. Instead, he sliced a piece of the oven baked homemade pie onto a curved plate that doubled as a bowl, scooped an ice cream scoop onto the side, and squirted whipped cream on the top before sliding it over to Sayor with a friendly smile. He then helped himself to his own bowl, settling in on the soft dining chairs with content.
Tuning in on the conevrsation, Nathaniel and his parents were in for a shock. Sayors mother had launched into a heartfelt story about her home life, saying how she didn't have much time to herself taking care of Sayor and her cancer. Cancer? Cancer-? Nath practically choked on the crust of his pie hearing the words, his brown eyes flashing over to Sayor with concern. Cancer ? He mouthed across the table, concern flooding his expression. His parents murmured sympathies and oh-no's, finding a new respect for Sayors mother. His own mother seemed to get emotional like usual, covering her lips with a cupped hand in horror. "Oh my gosh... when was she diagnosed? If you ever need anything, we'd be more than happy to help out," Susanne said simcereltly, his father silently nodding along beside her.
His mother had a heart of gold, and always wanted to help everyone possible. She would be willing to lend her financial support to the family, as well as even bringing meals and visiting Sayor when she needed to. Sometimes, though people took advantage of his mother's hospitality, but that was never enough to stop Susanne Harrison from opening her heart to everyone. Menawhile, Nathan had a difficult time eating his dessert. Cancer? Sayor had cancer? What type? Was it fatal? Would she die? She didn't look balding from chemotherapy, was she wearing a wig? How long had she had it? A grimace was obvious on his expressions as his stomach turned, while Desiraes spoon clinker against her bowl oblivious to the entire conversation.
(view spoiler)
Sayor giggled, nodding seriously. "Just between us." She loved this. The pathetic flirting the two did, the secret rendezvous. It was so cute it was chick flick worthy. Which was saying a lot. They walked back in, and instantly there was five pairs of eyes on them. Her mother gave her Signature death glare, making sure that only she saw it. Brat. Hudson raises an eyebrow looking back and forth between the two. Sayor bit her lip, raising her hands and using their same knowledge of sign language to tell him what had happened. Just told him what happened to dad..don't worry aboht me the movements were slow, small so that way no one would have noticed unless they were staring. Hudson and Sayor had both been taking ASL since their 8th grade year so they could talk bad about people when they were there. They didnt use it very often though...only times like this.
Sayor smiled at Nathan, sitting down and scooting her chair in. She was so excited for the desert. First non hospital food desert. She was so excited. Honestly, Sayor was glad that her mom had made her come..even if she was still feeling like crap. "Thank you Nathan." Sayor said with a smile, accepting the plate with great joy. It felt good to not be pitied by her neighbors or treated like she was a fragile little girl who couldn't handle herself. Because she could. And she was very good at it. Her nose crinckled with distaste as she saw the whipped cream on her pie. Gross. Immediately she scooped it off, plopping it on Hudson's plate who squealed with joy. Dork. He was a whipped cream addict. Sayor on the other hand could do without it.
Just as things were getting good and Sayor thought everything was fine, her mom dropped the Cancer bomb. She took in a sharp breath of air, setting down her fork. She wasn't hungry. Her mom was a brat. How could she use Sayors illness as a popularity boost? She was messed up. Hudson dropped his fork on accident, surprised that his aunt had done that. What a beach. Such a beach. Sayor glanced over at Nathan, feeling sick. When he mouthed the single word that had torn her life apart..she did nothing but nod, not looking him in the eyes. Her mother continued to milk it out, wiping her eyes as she looked down at her napkin, acting all emotional. "My baby was five the first time she went through it. Then she was cancer free for four years, before it came back when she was eleven." Her mother took a deep breath, running her fingers through her blonde hair.
At this point, Sayor had had enough. She bit back tears as she stood, muttering a quick excuse me as she walked out of the room, feeling like she would barf. She leaned against the hallway, listening as her mother continued. "We didnt think she would make it honestly. She barley survived the first time...and then by some miracle, my baby pulled through. She's been cancer free ever since. We sent her for her yearly check up last week and they thought they found some so they kept her..she just got back today." Her mother said softly, wiping at her eyes again. "Sorry..I just get emotional thinking about it." Sayor bit her lip, letting the first tear fall. Her mother was sick. Using an illness to get ahead in life. Using Sayor as a pity case. Who does that? She didnt want to be there anymore. And the worst thing about it was that Nathan was the only one who looked at her. His parents said they were sorry to her mother. They didnt even care that SHE was the one crying her 6 year old self to sleep at night all alone in the hospital because she hurt so bad. They didnt care that she has been bald twice, they didn't care that even just a touched had bruised her. They. Didnt. Care. She hated it. Sayor hated adults. All of them.
Sayor smiled at Nathan, sitting down and scooting her chair in. She was so excited for the desert. First non hospital food desert. She was so excited. Honestly, Sayor was glad that her mom had made her come..even if she was still feeling like crap. "Thank you Nathan." Sayor said with a smile, accepting the plate with great joy. It felt good to not be pitied by her neighbors or treated like she was a fragile little girl who couldn't handle herself. Because she could. And she was very good at it. Her nose crinckled with distaste as she saw the whipped cream on her pie. Gross. Immediately she scooped it off, plopping it on Hudson's plate who squealed with joy. Dork. He was a whipped cream addict. Sayor on the other hand could do without it.
Just as things were getting good and Sayor thought everything was fine, her mom dropped the Cancer bomb. She took in a sharp breath of air, setting down her fork. She wasn't hungry. Her mom was a brat. How could she use Sayors illness as a popularity boost? She was messed up. Hudson dropped his fork on accident, surprised that his aunt had done that. What a beach. Such a beach. Sayor glanced over at Nathan, feeling sick. When he mouthed the single word that had torn her life apart..she did nothing but nod, not looking him in the eyes. Her mother continued to milk it out, wiping her eyes as she looked down at her napkin, acting all emotional. "My baby was five the first time she went through it. Then she was cancer free for four years, before it came back when she was eleven." Her mother took a deep breath, running her fingers through her blonde hair.
At this point, Sayor had had enough. She bit back tears as she stood, muttering a quick excuse me as she walked out of the room, feeling like she would barf. She leaned against the hallway, listening as her mother continued. "We didnt think she would make it honestly. She barley survived the first time...and then by some miracle, my baby pulled through. She's been cancer free ever since. We sent her for her yearly check up last week and they thought they found some so they kept her..she just got back today." Her mother said softly, wiping at her eyes again. "Sorry..I just get emotional thinking about it." Sayor bit her lip, letting the first tear fall. Her mother was sick. Using an illness to get ahead in life. Using Sayor as a pity case. Who does that? She didnt want to be there anymore. And the worst thing about it was that Nathan was the only one who looked at her. His parents said they were sorry to her mother. They didnt even care that SHE was the one crying her 6 year old self to sleep at night all alone in the hospital because she hurt so bad. They didnt care that she has been bald twice, they didn't care that even just a touched had bruised her. They. Didnt. Care. She hated it. Sayor hated adults. All of them.
Nathaniel felt sick, just hearing that his new friend and neighbor had cancer. That she was unwell, frequently in the hospital because of it. Desirae had her respiration problems, but cancer was a whole lot worse. He knew what it was like to sit in a hospital room all night, holding someone's small hand with worries if she'd make it out to the next morning. Nath bit into his pie crust slowly, his brown eyes peering into his bowl with sudden interest. He didn't know what to think, what to say. How could someone like Sayor be punished with cancer? Would she be okay? Would she be needing chemotherapy? Nathaniel listened in on the conversation, his mood dampened as he pushed a melting lump of ice cream around on his bowl. His mother was slightly emotional along with Mrs Dunkley, tearing up visibly as she shook her head knowingly. Adopting Desirae had really changed his mother's out look on life, a beautiful baby girl stranded in the orphanage at two days old because her parents had seen an imperfection with her lung issue. It had sickened his mother, and she had taken Desirae into the family without a second thought. All those endless nights and treatments and medicines and emergency midnight trips to the hospital, they were all relatable to the Harrison family. But to the cancer level? They had no idea. Sayor didn't seem ill, although she didn't have much on her bones. She wouldn't meet his eyes at all, searching the table cloth as she nodded her head slightly to his questioning stare. Cancer? Nathaniel could hardly get iver his shock. He didn't know what to say. He was conflicted between comforting her, pitying her, and asking her a bunch of questions. How was anyone supposed to react to learning that someone they had a little crush on, their new neighbor, their new friend, had cancer? Nathan began to fear, all those stories of friends' grandpas and cousins and dogs dying of cancers of all types. He remained silent as Mrs Dunkley elaborated on how awful the situation had been, learning that Sayor had just returned from the hospital that very morning. He could tell looking at Sayor that she was upset by the subject, perhaps even embarassed that her own mother was spilling her entire life story to the new neighbors.
Then she bolted. Sayor pushed her chair back with a sudden scrape, the chair teetering precariously. She muttered a few words he couldnt make out, before she flipped her hair over her shoulder in a rush. Just like that Sayor was gone. The entire table had gone silent, staring after the doorway Sayor had disappeared out of. His mother rubbed at her eyes in shock, feeling terrible for causing Sayor upset even though she really hadn't done much. Mr Harrison simply blinked behind his glasses, glancing frequently between Hudson and Mrs Dunkley. "Is she okay...?" He asked softly, the first few words he had said at all that night. Desirae stared wide eyed, fully alert now that something had happened. "Where's she going? Why's she mad, Nath?" Her innocent voice cut the thick silence, and Nathaniel felt him rising from his chair in sort of a daze. All this had happened so suddnely, spiraled out of control... where was Sayor going?
Nathaniel pushed in his chair and went on autopilot, his vans thudding on the wood floors as he left the dining room without a word. His face expressed deep concern for Sayor, who he now seeked instinctively as it was his nature to comfort those that needed it. "Sayor?" He whispered, his head swiveling in the hallway for the girl in the polka dot dress. In the dim lighting that trailed from the kitchen and dining room and all the rooms in between, Nathan could make out a figure a little ways down the wide corridor. Sighing gently, he jogged the last few steps in a hurry to join Sayor at her side. She was visibly struggling with her emotions, her face twisted with a pained expression. "You okay?" Nathaniel whispered softly to her, now standing directly in front of Sayor with his gentle voice echoing in the hallway. He folded his arms over his chest as it was somewhat colder in the dark, her silhouette barley visible in the dark. He just felt so awful for how she was feeling right then, even though he couldnt quite place it.
His sisters voice floated from the room calling their names in confusion, Naths eyes flickering iver to the brightly lit dining room before back to Sayor. "Let's get away from here, come on, get you some air," Nathan coaxed, gesturing with his head back towards the vast living room, where the sliding glass doors that led to the vast back yard was. The place was well manicured by his parents and his mother's little gardening friends, with seasonal flowers well in bloom. A slight breeze ruffled the crisp night air, the backyards lights and various strung lanterns decorating the yard. The pool was lit, although leaves and debris floated at the top of the blue green waters. Patio furniture was arranged neatly, the backyard one of Nathaniel's escapes.
(view spoiler)
Sayor was extremely uncomfortable as her mother fake cried, bringing Mrs. Harrison to tears as well. She hated this. She hated her mother. She hated cancer. Hudson's jaw clenched tightly next to her, a hand placed on her back to keep her from breaking. Did she do this every time she went to dinner or had someone over? Did she always use Sayor as a stepping stool? It made Sayor feel so sick, but that was a feeling she was used to. Sayor was always sick. At this point she knew exactly when the Leukemia was back. She got dizzy spells, fainted a lot, and bruised so easily. The last time she had it, Hudson had gently given her arm a small squeeze and the next morning she had a purple and green hand mark on her hand. It was horrible. Sayor felt increasingly more uncomfortable as Hudson got more intense, Nathan got quiet and Mrs. Harrison began to cry. This was so sick..so wrong.
Sayor nawed on her lip, staring at her small frail hands as she took deep breaths. She couldn't stay calm. Sayor was famous for her temper, the one just like her mothers. It got worse when she was just home from the hospital, usually tired, frail, and feeling like crap. She didnt look frail or sick to the untrained eye..but to people like Nathan she looked so horrible. Bags under her eyes that were concealed under fading makeup, clammy hands, and pale skin. She was in remission right now, and wasn't having to fight anymore and yet every once in a while when they were convinced it was back, Sayor came home tired, bitter and not tolerable of anybody. "Its so hard, to watch your only child suffer." Her mother whispered, looking into Mrs. Harrison's wet eyes. It was working. It always did.
Hudson's eyes went wide as Sayor left, his teeth grinding slightly. Hudson wanted to explode, call his aunt out on her butt load of crap..but he didn't. It would make things so hard for Sayor. Sayor always got blamed when he stood up for her. So he just stopped. It was worse for her if he did. Everyone was quiet, Mr. Harrison speaking for the first time. "She'll be okay Mr. Harrison. Its just hard for her to talk about and she doesnt like to be around when its the topic. Just let her cool down." He sighed, sucking in a deep breath. It was so hard for him to watch his best friend suffer and be treated like sort. He had been told about Nathan's little sister and was glad she was put up for adoption. It would have been better than leaving with the people that gave her up. Sayor often said that she wished she had been put up for adoption the moment they found out. She wished they would do her a favor and just give her up. It broke Hudson's heart.
Sayor leaned against the wall, her face buried in her hands. She couldn't live with that witch anymore. Sayor didnt want to be a Dunkley. She didnt want to be associated with them. Her breaths were shaky, her breathing slow and heavy. If Sayor didnt have cancer she wouldn't be treated this horribly. She wouldn't be treated like the dirt on her mother's shoe. Sayor can barley remember her life before the cancer, but it was happy. Her parents loved each other. She was loved. And then she was diagnosed and it all fell apart. She looked up as she heard her name called, seeing Nathan coming down the hallway and wishing she could die. This could not get worse. She wanted to tell him when he noticed the scars or even asked about her childhood or something. Not because her mother spilled the beans at their first meeting. He asked her if she was okay, standing directly in front of her. "No." She whispered, trying to be okay...but she wasn't.
Sayor heard Desirae's sweet voice echo through the dining room, calling her big brothers name. Brothers were the best. Hudson wasn't even like a cousin at this point. He was her brother. "Okay." She whispered, following him outside with her arms wrapped around herself. She just wanted to leave. Could Hudson drive her home and then come back like he did her dad? Please? Could she be banished? Sayors layered, blonde shoulder length hair ruffled slightly as she stepped outside, the breeze freshing. Say felt like she owed Nathan an explanation to why she left..the real story. "I'm sorry...I just couldn't be in there while my mother lied. She was never there for me. I don't even think she knows what kind of Cancer I had. She just lies to get on peoples good side." Sayor said softly, wiping the tear that had escaped. Ugh. Stupid family..who needs them.
Sayor nawed on her lip, staring at her small frail hands as she took deep breaths. She couldn't stay calm. Sayor was famous for her temper, the one just like her mothers. It got worse when she was just home from the hospital, usually tired, frail, and feeling like crap. She didnt look frail or sick to the untrained eye..but to people like Nathan she looked so horrible. Bags under her eyes that were concealed under fading makeup, clammy hands, and pale skin. She was in remission right now, and wasn't having to fight anymore and yet every once in a while when they were convinced it was back, Sayor came home tired, bitter and not tolerable of anybody. "Its so hard, to watch your only child suffer." Her mother whispered, looking into Mrs. Harrison's wet eyes. It was working. It always did.
Hudson's eyes went wide as Sayor left, his teeth grinding slightly. Hudson wanted to explode, call his aunt out on her butt load of crap..but he didn't. It would make things so hard for Sayor. Sayor always got blamed when he stood up for her. So he just stopped. It was worse for her if he did. Everyone was quiet, Mr. Harrison speaking for the first time. "She'll be okay Mr. Harrison. Its just hard for her to talk about and she doesnt like to be around when its the topic. Just let her cool down." He sighed, sucking in a deep breath. It was so hard for him to watch his best friend suffer and be treated like sort. He had been told about Nathan's little sister and was glad she was put up for adoption. It would have been better than leaving with the people that gave her up. Sayor often said that she wished she had been put up for adoption the moment they found out. She wished they would do her a favor and just give her up. It broke Hudson's heart.
Sayor leaned against the wall, her face buried in her hands. She couldn't live with that witch anymore. Sayor didnt want to be a Dunkley. She didnt want to be associated with them. Her breaths were shaky, her breathing slow and heavy. If Sayor didnt have cancer she wouldn't be treated this horribly. She wouldn't be treated like the dirt on her mother's shoe. Sayor can barley remember her life before the cancer, but it was happy. Her parents loved each other. She was loved. And then she was diagnosed and it all fell apart. She looked up as she heard her name called, seeing Nathan coming down the hallway and wishing she could die. This could not get worse. She wanted to tell him when he noticed the scars or even asked about her childhood or something. Not because her mother spilled the beans at their first meeting. He asked her if she was okay, standing directly in front of her. "No." She whispered, trying to be okay...but she wasn't.
Sayor heard Desirae's sweet voice echo through the dining room, calling her big brothers name. Brothers were the best. Hudson wasn't even like a cousin at this point. He was her brother. "Okay." She whispered, following him outside with her arms wrapped around herself. She just wanted to leave. Could Hudson drive her home and then come back like he did her dad? Please? Could she be banished? Sayors layered, blonde shoulder length hair ruffled slightly as she stepped outside, the breeze freshing. Say felt like she owed Nathan an explanation to why she left..the real story. "I'm sorry...I just couldn't be in there while my mother lied. She was never there for me. I don't even think she knows what kind of Cancer I had. She just lies to get on peoples good side." Sayor said softly, wiping the tear that had escaped. Ugh. Stupid family..who needs them.
Nathaniel felt as if he were invading sayors space as she looked down when he approached, her hands flaking away from her face. Was she crying? He couldn't exactly tell, but he jsut hoped he didn't make any of it worse. Nathaniel had such a big heart for everyone he met, regardless how terrible of a person they were or how awful their situation was. "Hey... it'll be okay," he assured her in a gentle whisper tone, his head tilted slightly to her short height. It didn't take a scientist to figure out that Sayor was going to break any moment, and he felt compelled to prevent it from happening. The last thing he wanted was for her to leave the house in shambles, and feel terrible about this night... he wanted to make sure she would come back again. Sayor wasn't all that bad, and he could use a new friend in the neighborhood. Regardless of her family matters. He was relieved when she obliged, as it showed him that she was willing to talk to him for a bit. He wouldn't force it on her to reveal her life story, but simply offer to be there if she wanted to say something. Things were always easier when there was someone else around to be there to lean on. Nathan nodded simply, leading the way to the back of the house in the dim lighting as the hushed voices continued on in the living room. Neither said anything to each other as Nath unlocked and pulled open the back door, his dogs perking up in their identical dog houses a family friend had built and painted for them a few years ago, off to the side of the porch. The two had been sleepimg, but abandoned the warmth of their bedded housing to come and approach him and Sayor with wagging tails and meek expressions.
They continued down a pathway with the dogs aimlessly trailing at their heels, trying to sneak lickings at Sayors fingertips with their tails smacking the back of the two humans' legs, although they didn't bark or yip with excitement. It was nice, just to have a quiet breezy night to themselves. In Denver, the air wasn't too nippy that particular week, and the stars twinkled up above with some clouds obscuring their view of the moon. Motion sensored lights lit up to light their path towards the small hammock they had tied between two trees, with a concealed view from the house of the pool and the rest of the backyard. Nathan seated himself on the hammock, stabilizing himself before patting the spot next to him for Sayor. The dogs settled at his feet, rolling on the cement waiting for their masters word.
Sayor spoke up, and Nathaniel turned his gaze from the green blue tint of the water before them. He was quiet while she let off what she had been thinking about in a wavering tone, her words full of emotion and some hatred towards her mother. He could understand now why Sayor had said her mother was messed up, although Nathan hadn't been able to see it from the beginning. It actually irritated him to find out that Mrs Dunkley had behaved that way at the table, deceiving everyone else into thinking she was this amazing mother. No. She wasn't even close! What mother could lie to her hosts about her daughter, and use her daughters illnesses to gain sympathies? His mother had obviously taken the bait, having a soft spot in her heart for whatever kids were subjected to the hospital at young ages, and we're the subjects of sorrow and pain in their homes. Desirae was often in discomfort, unable to breathe at times or even have the energy to do the things normal little girls did. It was nothing his mother ever talked openly about just to gain attention, but she said it in an affectionate way that portrayed how dearly she cared for her children. Her adopted child, too.
"No... don't worry about it... I'm sorry you have to deal with someone like her," Nathan sighed heavily, swinging slightly on the hammock with his feet pushing on the ground. He removed his glasses from on his head to being hooked on the breast pocket of his printed button down shirt, sneaking a side glance at Sayor. He had been just in time to see the first tear fall, quickly wiped away by Sayors hand. He had so many questions for her, so many things to say, but he was afraid to say the wrong thing and scare her away forever. If they remained friends after tonight, Sayor would maybe tell him what he wanted to know amother time. Today? He just needed to be a listener. "Your cancer thing... sorry to hear about that from her and everything... is everything... okay with you? For now?" He asked hesitantly, his heart skipping a few beats just thinking about sayors crippling health conditions. Cancer left you weak, no doubt about that. He jsut wanted to make sure... Sayor was okay. That she'd be around for a while.
Sayor was touched by the fact that he thought that everything was going to be okay. It wasn't. Things were never okay in her life, but she was okay with pretending. Sayor didnt often feel so pessimistic, but when your mother was using the illness that could have killed you as a cute little pity party to gain new friends and respect, you get a little negitive. Sayor felt really negative. "Yeah..." She said softly, trailing off. She didnt want to talk about her mom. Say was really fine talking about her cancer story. It wasn't hard. If you wanted to know she would tell you. The only thing Sayor hated was the fact that people always pitied her after and treated her different. She hated that. She wasn't any different than she was when they first met. They just now knew that she was constantly fighting. That was it.
Nathaniel said nothing when she agreed, just nodded his head and lead her outside, the silence between them a little refreshing. She had never been able to just sit and talk to someone. They had always butt in, begging to know it all. And then when she told them it was like..oh...gross. Moving on. And she was just left standing there, wondering where it went wrong. They made it outside, the breeze ruffling her blonde hair refreshingly. And that was when these two dogs came running up, their tails wagging, tongues hanging out of their mouth. Sayor managed a smile, petting them gently. She had always loved dogs. Nothing had changed with her there.
Sayor took a deep breath, admiring the beautiful landscaping of his backyard. No wonder her mother wanted to be on their good side. They were rich. Rich was always better. No matter how snotty and jerky. Rich was important. Her mother was constantly trying to set her up with these absolute pigs just because of their money. It was awful. All the boys wanted her for the same reason. She had a nice body. That was it. Not because they thought she had a spunky attitude, laughed easily, and would enjoy just about anything. Nope. They wanted her because she was pretty. It pissed her off. They walked down the pathway, coming to a hammock.
Sayor watched as Nathan sat down, patting the spot next to him. Sayor could see this going wrong in a million ways...yet..she didnt care. It was silly to let her get close to someone that could potentially be torn apart by her if...when she died. Sayor didnt want to do that to him
..but she was so desperate to have a friend that it didnt matter. Sayor was just lonely. Maybe if she actually let herself have friends and get close to people other than the other people in the cancer department, she would have people that would visit her. Someone who would miss her! It was a weird thought, but one she knew needed to happen.
Sayor let it out, feeling the need to apologize for her rude exit. She could have handled that better. Maybe..excused herself to go to the bathroom or something! Sayor was a good actress she wasn't really hurt. Her mother was a sick person. Lying about being a fantastic mother when Mrs. Harrison actually was. From what Sayor could tell. Mrs. Harrison seemed like the lady that would stay overnight with her kids if she needed too. She was the lady that kids like Sayor wished they had for a mom. Because their moms sucked. Like no other. Sayor saw little Desirae as a better off little her. Des was so sweet, which was the opposite of Sayor..but that didnt matter. Desirae was going to develop into a little fighter. She wasnt going to take crap from anybody. Like Sayor. Sayor honestly was the most opinionated stubborn person you will ever met. Because her life is too short to take crap. Might as well get your opinion out before you die.
She shrugged, glancing at Nathan. Yeah. Her home life sucked..but it wasn't anything new. She didnt have anything to miss really..because she had never known anything different. "Yeah. Most days I can take it..but today's hard. I just got back you know?" Sayor was never really tolerable or brave when she just got back. She was a little bit more on the ow! That hurts my feelings. Kind of side. She hated just getting back.. She brushed away her tear, making sure that no more made an appearance. You don't cry on the first date. That's not allowed. Nathan asked her if she was okay, his eyes full of a concern that made her feel a lot better. He actually cared. "Yes. I've been cancer free for two years. The longest I have been was four years..so we'll see." She said with a small shrug, knowing that if it came back, she would just fight it off again. "You know its okay to ask me about it. I'm not going to burst into tears. I just hate my mom using it to lie to people. Its not right. Especially when I'm there."
Nathaniel said nothing when she agreed, just nodded his head and lead her outside, the silence between them a little refreshing. She had never been able to just sit and talk to someone. They had always butt in, begging to know it all. And then when she told them it was like..oh...gross. Moving on. And she was just left standing there, wondering where it went wrong. They made it outside, the breeze ruffling her blonde hair refreshingly. And that was when these two dogs came running up, their tails wagging, tongues hanging out of their mouth. Sayor managed a smile, petting them gently. She had always loved dogs. Nothing had changed with her there.
Sayor took a deep breath, admiring the beautiful landscaping of his backyard. No wonder her mother wanted to be on their good side. They were rich. Rich was always better. No matter how snotty and jerky. Rich was important. Her mother was constantly trying to set her up with these absolute pigs just because of their money. It was awful. All the boys wanted her for the same reason. She had a nice body. That was it. Not because they thought she had a spunky attitude, laughed easily, and would enjoy just about anything. Nope. They wanted her because she was pretty. It pissed her off. They walked down the pathway, coming to a hammock.
Sayor watched as Nathan sat down, patting the spot next to him. Sayor could see this going wrong in a million ways...yet..she didnt care. It was silly to let her get close to someone that could potentially be torn apart by her if...when she died. Sayor didnt want to do that to him
..but she was so desperate to have a friend that it didnt matter. Sayor was just lonely. Maybe if she actually let herself have friends and get close to people other than the other people in the cancer department, she would have people that would visit her. Someone who would miss her! It was a weird thought, but one she knew needed to happen.
Sayor let it out, feeling the need to apologize for her rude exit. She could have handled that better. Maybe..excused herself to go to the bathroom or something! Sayor was a good actress she wasn't really hurt. Her mother was a sick person. Lying about being a fantastic mother when Mrs. Harrison actually was. From what Sayor could tell. Mrs. Harrison seemed like the lady that would stay overnight with her kids if she needed too. She was the lady that kids like Sayor wished they had for a mom. Because their moms sucked. Like no other. Sayor saw little Desirae as a better off little her. Des was so sweet, which was the opposite of Sayor..but that didnt matter. Desirae was going to develop into a little fighter. She wasnt going to take crap from anybody. Like Sayor. Sayor honestly was the most opinionated stubborn person you will ever met. Because her life is too short to take crap. Might as well get your opinion out before you die.
She shrugged, glancing at Nathan. Yeah. Her home life sucked..but it wasn't anything new. She didnt have anything to miss really..because she had never known anything different. "Yeah. Most days I can take it..but today's hard. I just got back you know?" Sayor was never really tolerable or brave when she just got back. She was a little bit more on the ow! That hurts my feelings. Kind of side. She hated just getting back.. She brushed away her tear, making sure that no more made an appearance. You don't cry on the first date. That's not allowed. Nathan asked her if she was okay, his eyes full of a concern that made her feel a lot better. He actually cared. "Yes. I've been cancer free for two years. The longest I have been was four years..so we'll see." She said with a small shrug, knowing that if it came back, she would just fight it off again. "You know its okay to ask me about it. I'm not going to burst into tears. I just hate my mom using it to lie to people. Its not right. Especially when I'm there."
AWWWWWWWWWW btw what time of the year is it? Was it gonna be the end of the summer kind of like august right before school started?? It would be snowing if we made it currrnt times so it cant be that
Nathaniel felt a little annoyed with Mrs. Dunkley and her behavior towards her daughter. Why would someone do that, talk about their own daughter in such a way just to gain sympathies from other families? It made Nathans temper tick, and that was saying something for someone who normally was pretty tolerant. "This morning? Why does she do that to you? It doesn't make sense..." Nathan wrinkled his nsoe, shaking his head as he prodded the toe of his vans into the cement. He sighed heavily, his brown eyed gaze flickering out over the green water once more, counting the lights in the pool in his head. Sayor didn't deserve to be treated like that, nobody did... so why did people still do it? What was the point, the motivation he was failing to see? His mother never would have done that, so he didn't know what it was like to be around people like Mrs Dunkley. "Why'd you have to go in the first place? What happened?" Nathan asked curiously, his eyes blank as his vision spaced out and unfocused while he sat with his shoulders hunched and his hands in his lap, looking straight ahead. It was one of those things you did when you were listening to someone talk; you were still paying attention, but looking at one thing for too long made it seem like you were possessed with a wide eyed, lost stare. He forced himself to look back over to Sayor, blinking as he shifted his position on the hammock and therefore moving the both of him as he struggled to get comfortable with another person on the large, draping fabric. He decided on tucking his knee on its side, with one leg dangling off the edge of the hammock and touching the cement. This way, he could lean back against the fabric that connected and sloped upwards to the tree it was attatched to, and yet still look at Sayor.
He brightened at her good news if staying cancer free for the past two years, and his heart lifted. It gave him immense relief and an ability to breathe again knowing this, a soft sigh escaping his lips. Nathaniel flashed the usual Harrison half smile him, his father, uncle, and two cousins shared, his fingers fidgeting in his lap as he fought the urge to clap or celebrate. Or soemthing. "That's amazing, Sayor! Good," he grinned encouragingly. It made him breathe easy knowing that Sayor wasn't diagnosed again, confirming his theories about her hospital visit. It wasn't cancer. She'd be okay, for now... even if she had gotten it again, he would be supportive. Maybe visit her at least, make her a card, bring her balloons and flowers. It didn't matter that he didn't know her, but already she was beginning to grow on him. It wasn't often he talked to girls, anyway... Sayor seemed like a cool girl with a personality he liked, plus she was his new neighbor. They'd likely go to the same school, and they lived somewhat close! It was all perfect.
Nathan hesitated, his restless fingers now looping into the netted, bunched fabric of the hammock. He really didn't know what else he wanted to ask, but he wss plenty curious. What was cancer like? That was a stupid question, of course it was miserable and awful, it made your hair fall out and you had to take alot of medicune. He knew that from his grandma, who'd passed away when he was ten. It made him sensitive in what he would say to Sayor, so he wouldn't say something dumb or offend her. The last thing he wanted was for his new neighbor to leave feeling violated and paranoid about ever coming iver again, especially with a kid like Hudson guarding over her every movement. He didn't want any problems, really... Nath dragged his fingers through his gelled hair, patting his pocket to make sure his glasses were still there.
"Well... what kind of cancer do you have? Or did have? How bad was it?" Nathaniel asked gently, his tone soft and slow as if to avoid stepping on any landmines. She'd assured him that he could ask anything, but he jsut couldn't be sure. The dogs locked themselves and curled up peacefully on the cement below, occasionally lifting their wet black noses to the air to sniff before setting their heads back down. The air was cool with the oncoming fall weather, and Nathan felt chills on his arms. He glanced to Sayor in her dress, grimacing. "And hey, if you're cold, we could go back inside... I didn't realize what the weather was today," he apologized. Maybe it was a good thing he hadn't been able to go to that sporting event today.
Sayor was used to this kind of treatment. When the people around her the moment they realized what she was going through, they treated her like a time bomb, seconds away from exploding into little, tiny pieces all around the earth. They just didnt realize that Sayor was tough. She didnt cry very often, was very spirited and stubborn, and could take on any challenge. Everyone just assumed that because she was a cancer survivor she was weak and tender. Assuming that did way more damage than harm. Assuming she was weak, made her hate you. Hate you. Thank heavens Nath hadnt assumed the worst of her yet..or else she really would have been ticked. "My mom wrote me off as a trouble. As a burden a long time ago. She gave up caring." Sayor said simply, shrugging her shoulders. "The moment I was diagnosed whatever chance of having a cute little mother daughter relationship was over." Sayor blames her mothers hatred on her cancer. It was the cancer that made her mom hate her. Not Sayor. Sayor did nothing..it was all the stupid cancer.
Nathan seemed alarmed when she told him that she had had to go back for a week. It was really no big deal. They just did a cat scan, some shots...a lot of shots actually, skin samples, and put her on a lot of medication. Usually the appointments only were 5 hours. This time...it was a week...because her samples came back. Positive. Leukemia positive. Sayor thought she was dead. She remembered calling up Hudson, bawling because she thought the cancer was back. They kept her for a week doing tests, putting her on more medication and taking more and more samples. They all came back negative. She was still alive...thank heavens. "Um it was just a monthly checkup at first, to do a catscan, give me some shots, that kind of thing. But then the blood samples they took came back Positive. Which meant it had leukemia in it. I cried. For hours because I thought I was going to die. I went back to the hospital, they ran tests, pumped me full of drugs and when their samples came back, they were all negitive. It was a false alarm, thank heavens."
Sayor grinned at him, flattered that he was pleased. Wow. They had known each other three hours and he was already getting the cancer story. She was impressed at how fast he had worked his way into her cold impenetrable heart. Already though, she could tell they were total opposites. Sayor was loud, opinionated, flirty, outgoing, snarky and sarcastic. Nathan was shy, kind, meek..nervous. Total opposites. But its like that saying. Opposites attract. They were opposites, and there was a ton of attraction going on there. Sayor didnt mind. He was a good kid to be attracted to. "Yup! I plan on staying Cancer free for longer than 4 years, but we'll have to see!"
This was all so different. The cool air from the outside was welcome from Sayor as she let it cool her hot head. Sayor was a hot headed temperamental person, but given the chance she could calm down. It was weird though. With Nathaniel, she was the calmest she had ever been. It was interesting to her how bipolar people were. People change depending on the season, the person they are with, what time of day it is. And everyone's different. It was really cool to her. She wondered how Nathan was. Was he like most people in the winter? Totally depressed? Was he a morning person? Or a night owl? Sayor was neither. She was always tired, the meds she was on sucked the life out of her. All the time.
Sayor watched as he fiddled with the hammock, watching her carefully. She didnt know what she could do to assure him that he could ask whatever he wanted. "Nathaniel. Really, its okay to ask me questions. Honestly, I don't mind them. Its the delicate way people treat me after the questions that I don't like." She told him gently, patting one of his restless hands. And then he asked her two very good questions. What type of cancer had she had, and how bad had it been. Those ones were whimpy questions, but she would answer them. "I was diagnosed with type one Leukemia when I was five, and then when I was eleven, I was diagnosed with the three. They found it right off the bat when I was little, but the appointments had dwindled down to once a year by the time I was in remission for a year. So they didnt catch it. I remember leading up to that point I was bruising like crazy, I was throwing up all the time..and I couldn't stand on my own two feet. That was when my neighbor took me to the hospital and they found it. After that I didnt leave the hospital for two years. My parents wouldn't drive me to treatments, so I just stated there."
Nathan seemed alarmed when she told him that she had had to go back for a week. It was really no big deal. They just did a cat scan, some shots...a lot of shots actually, skin samples, and put her on a lot of medication. Usually the appointments only were 5 hours. This time...it was a week...because her samples came back. Positive. Leukemia positive. Sayor thought she was dead. She remembered calling up Hudson, bawling because she thought the cancer was back. They kept her for a week doing tests, putting her on more medication and taking more and more samples. They all came back negative. She was still alive...thank heavens. "Um it was just a monthly checkup at first, to do a catscan, give me some shots, that kind of thing. But then the blood samples they took came back Positive. Which meant it had leukemia in it. I cried. For hours because I thought I was going to die. I went back to the hospital, they ran tests, pumped me full of drugs and when their samples came back, they were all negitive. It was a false alarm, thank heavens."
Sayor grinned at him, flattered that he was pleased. Wow. They had known each other three hours and he was already getting the cancer story. She was impressed at how fast he had worked his way into her cold impenetrable heart. Already though, she could tell they were total opposites. Sayor was loud, opinionated, flirty, outgoing, snarky and sarcastic. Nathan was shy, kind, meek..nervous. Total opposites. But its like that saying. Opposites attract. They were opposites, and there was a ton of attraction going on there. Sayor didnt mind. He was a good kid to be attracted to. "Yup! I plan on staying Cancer free for longer than 4 years, but we'll have to see!"
This was all so different. The cool air from the outside was welcome from Sayor as she let it cool her hot head. Sayor was a hot headed temperamental person, but given the chance she could calm down. It was weird though. With Nathaniel, she was the calmest she had ever been. It was interesting to her how bipolar people were. People change depending on the season, the person they are with, what time of day it is. And everyone's different. It was really cool to her. She wondered how Nathan was. Was he like most people in the winter? Totally depressed? Was he a morning person? Or a night owl? Sayor was neither. She was always tired, the meds she was on sucked the life out of her. All the time.
Sayor watched as he fiddled with the hammock, watching her carefully. She didnt know what she could do to assure him that he could ask whatever he wanted. "Nathaniel. Really, its okay to ask me questions. Honestly, I don't mind them. Its the delicate way people treat me after the questions that I don't like." She told him gently, patting one of his restless hands. And then he asked her two very good questions. What type of cancer had she had, and how bad had it been. Those ones were whimpy questions, but she would answer them. "I was diagnosed with type one Leukemia when I was five, and then when I was eleven, I was diagnosed with the three. They found it right off the bat when I was little, but the appointments had dwindled down to once a year by the time I was in remission for a year. So they didnt catch it. I remember leading up to that point I was bruising like crazy, I was throwing up all the time..and I couldn't stand on my own two feet. That was when my neighbor took me to the hospital and they found it. After that I didnt leave the hospital for two years. My parents wouldn't drive me to treatments, so I just stated there."
Nathaniel was greatly disturbed upon hearing how Sayors mother had treated her, especially once diagnosed with her illness. It wasn't as if Sayor chose it, yet her mother had merely discarded her from her cares. It was disgusting, really, how people were. He was in string disbelief, his face expressing shock with a slightly agape jaw as she continued with her story. How could a mother do that to her own adora- little daughter? Sayor seemed so nonchalant about it, as if she were used to it all. Like she couldn't even care anymore, after all that she'd been through, like it wasn't a big deal. "Thats... crap," Nathan put nicely, biting his cheek to keep from getting all uppity with Mrs. Dunkley. "Desiraes real parents gave her up, when she was a baby, just because she had a lung issue... I can't get my head around how parents can just neglect their kids because they get sick," Nathaniel's face twisted, his forehead creased as he toyed with his bracelet. A parental neglect had given him his sister, but it still tore him to see that Des wasn't the only one out there. Worse, Sayor most likely had been in worse pain. Nathan learned that McCall was diagnosed at fairly young ages, and had Leukemia. The one where it made your skin a ghastly pale, that you became bony and your ribs poked through the skin, and you lost some of your hair if not all of it. He'd seen a few cancer kids at the hospital they took Desirae to, and it broke his heart that he couldn't help all those perfect children. Fortunately, most of them had parents that visited them frequently and brought them toys, that stayed at their side for hours on end. His mother always cried at some point or another during their visits whenever Desirae had had a breathing episode or a pain in her chest. "That's rough," Nath exhaled softly, rubbing the back of his head. He was now assured that Sayor was safe for now, free of any Leukemia returning. Regardless, he was still keen on praying for her health every night. It couldn't hurt. But how long would Sayor last? If the first samples had been all positive, who knew? Maybe the second round of tests had been wrong... Nathaniel snapped out of his thinking feeling superstitious. He didn't want to jinx anything.
Sayors hand reached out for his as they constantly fidgeted with the hammock material. Her gentle touch surprised him, his brown eyes flickering up to hers in alarm. Oh. Nathaniel smiled sheepishly, a faint pink tint on his cheeks. He was just glad that it was night, and that the outdoor lights did a poor job of lighting his face. "I just.. don't want to say anything bad," Nath said weakly, unable to find the proper wording for his thoughts. His two questions seemed safe enough, he didn't want to pry in too much with her. After all, they'd just met an hour or so ago. She could tell him the rest when she was ready, whatever else there was to it all.
Nathan listened with his brown eyes fixated on Sayor, finding himself trying to imagine Sayor in a hospital gown. It was awful. Nobody looked good in those... He'd only been in the hospital for himself once or twice with broken bones, and a concussion. It was minimal, but it had been something he never wanted to do again. How Sayor frequented the place he had no idea. "You know, if you need rides or whatever, I can drive you," Nath promised earnestly. He felt a sick feeling in his stomach hearing how the Dunkleys wouldn't drive her to the hospital to keep her in good health, even if it was a fifteen minute drive through some pestering traffic from where they lived. He would drive hours if it took that long for someone's appointment. It was their health, something serious that couldn't be taken lightly.
Sayor shook her head, hearing how desirae came into his family. People like her parents, and Des's parents were horrible. "She's lucky she got put up for adoption. Way better off Nath. Those people werent good people. Even if she didn't have the lung problem. Honestly, I'm glad. She got more than I have ever had." Sayor said honestly, a small shrug on her face. Des deserved what Nathan and his parents had for her. Not the crap she would have gotten from her own. "I wish I had been given up for adoption to be honest." She said with a small smile, remembering how she would imagine getting put up and actually having something to live for. She would pretend to be like little orphan Annie and get adopted by Mr. OliverWarbucks and be famous and have all the toys and be cancer free with long hair. That was Sayors dream. Obviously, it never came true, but sometime..maybe she could be more than just a cancer surivior. Maybe she could be a mom, a wife, and a sister. It sounded so amazing. That was her new dream. To live to be a mom. At least 30. That wasnt too far fetched with her, because even though she had a history of Cancer coming back, they were watching her so close that they would catch it in stage one. Which is crazy early, and it makes it easier to beat. When she was 11, and they caught it stage three she was pretty much ready to kiss her life goodbye. It's harder to get rid of Cancer when it was so far in her already.
Sayor shrugged when he told her that it was rough. Yes. It was. If that wasnt obvious, Sayor didn't know what is. Things were always rough with cancer patients. Especially when you are one youreself. And alone. Sayor often visited the cancer ward, seeing all of her good friends, the kids she had grown up with. It was usually a boy, around her age as well. They had been roommates when they were 11, both with the same type of cancer. He was almost 17 now, and was back in the hopsital. His name was Marcus, and he was the sweetest kid ever..next to Nathan of course. He had been one of the only people there for her when she first was diagnosed with Cancer. Their bond was more of a brother and sister one than anything. They both knew it was pointless to get dating close. The other would probably die and it would hurt like none other. So, they didn't. "Yeah, but its whatever."
Sayor giggled at his surprise when she touched Nathan. It was almost like she was toxic or something. She wasn't. Promise. Cancer was not contagious. The lighting was poor, but Say could have sworn he was blushing. Maybe it was her imaganation, but..it probably wasnt. And that made her grin. Dispite the conversation they were having, she couldn't help but grin. And, it wasn't totally horrible because they were talking about her cancer. So she could smile if she wanted. "Trust me Nathan, you can't say anything bad. Alright? Unless you start to act like my parents, then we might have a few problems..but other than that I can be pretty tolerant. I mean, I do spend a lot of my time with Hudson." It was true. Hudson had like no filter. The kid meant well, but he never ever watched what he was saying. It all just came out in the form of word vomit. He was a big rambler too, and it really just made you want to shoot yourself. He was that kid.
Sayor grinned, biting the corner of her lip. "Thats so sweet of you." She said honestly, unable to contain herself. A really cute, super sweet, crazily attractive boy wanted to drive her to her hospital appointments. That definately did not happen everyday. Sayor was almost tempted to makeup a doctors appointment just to get him to take her somewhere or something. It was silly, and a total valley girl thing to do, but Say couldn't help the want she had for him to take her somewhere. It just seemed like it would be the perfect thing to do..you know? Just in the middle of the ride there suddenly go...oh! My doctor just texted me and said that he needed to cancel my appointment because the samples havent come back yet! Might as well go to dinner too! He would probably think she was a freak, but it would be so worth it. "I'll definatley hit you up on that one."
Sayor shrugged when he told her that it was rough. Yes. It was. If that wasnt obvious, Sayor didn't know what is. Things were always rough with cancer patients. Especially when you are one youreself. And alone. Sayor often visited the cancer ward, seeing all of her good friends, the kids she had grown up with. It was usually a boy, around her age as well. They had been roommates when they were 11, both with the same type of cancer. He was almost 17 now, and was back in the hopsital. His name was Marcus, and he was the sweetest kid ever..next to Nathan of course. He had been one of the only people there for her when she first was diagnosed with Cancer. Their bond was more of a brother and sister one than anything. They both knew it was pointless to get dating close. The other would probably die and it would hurt like none other. So, they didn't. "Yeah, but its whatever."
Sayor giggled at his surprise when she touched Nathan. It was almost like she was toxic or something. She wasn't. Promise. Cancer was not contagious. The lighting was poor, but Say could have sworn he was blushing. Maybe it was her imaganation, but..it probably wasnt. And that made her grin. Dispite the conversation they were having, she couldn't help but grin. And, it wasn't totally horrible because they were talking about her cancer. So she could smile if she wanted. "Trust me Nathan, you can't say anything bad. Alright? Unless you start to act like my parents, then we might have a few problems..but other than that I can be pretty tolerant. I mean, I do spend a lot of my time with Hudson." It was true. Hudson had like no filter. The kid meant well, but he never ever watched what he was saying. It all just came out in the form of word vomit. He was a big rambler too, and it really just made you want to shoot yourself. He was that kid.
Sayor grinned, biting the corner of her lip. "Thats so sweet of you." She said honestly, unable to contain herself. A really cute, super sweet, crazily attractive boy wanted to drive her to her hospital appointments. That definately did not happen everyday. Sayor was almost tempted to makeup a doctors appointment just to get him to take her somewhere or something. It was silly, and a total valley girl thing to do, but Say couldn't help the want she had for him to take her somewhere. It just seemed like it would be the perfect thing to do..you know? Just in the middle of the ride there suddenly go...oh! My doctor just texted me and said that he needed to cancel my appointment because the samples havent come back yet! Might as well go to dinner too! He would probably think she was a freak, but it would be so worth it. "I'll definatley hit you up on that one."
Nathaniel shrugged himself, still feeling resentful whenever he spoke of Desiraes birth parents. They hadn't even left any records, so they had no idea who they were. Desirae would have been all on her own in that orphanage, had his mother not rescued the little redhead baby on her visit. "Im glad, though... otherwise I wouldn't have her as my sister," Nathaniel murmured thoughtfully, stifling a yawn as he untangle his fingers from the hammock when they turned red from the blood being cut off in the netting. "Everything happens for a reason, I guess..." Nathan said carefully, resisting the urge to say something else. If Sayor had actually been adopted by another family, they wouldn't be here right now. He would have never met Sayor, and the idea made him feel a little sad. Of course, she was here now, and that wasn't going to change. Sayors widespread grin was contagious, but he had no idea what they were smiling about. Weren't they talking about cancer? Nathan couldn't help but redden a little more, his hands still feeling her delicate fingertips on them. Had she seen his blushing, was that why she was laughing at him? Or had his question been so absurd that she was scoffing at him? Either way, Nathan was embarassed. "W-what...?" He flushed, a shy expression on his bashful face. This was why he couldnt talk to girls, seeing that anything could make him blush. She reassured him firmly that he couldn't ever say anything terrible, that she would be able to handle whatever stupid things that came out of his mouth. It provided some relief, but not much at all since Nathaniel was one to worry about everything. It really wasn't good for him, but whatever. "Fine, fine... just slap me if I get out of line," Nath laughed softly, his voice carrying in the gentle breeze that ruffled Sayors hair. With this huge freedom of speech, Nathan actually didn't have much to say on the spot. Of course it would all come to him at once, and that would frustrate him to no end.
It seemed to be constant flirting and giggling now, mainly Nathan reacting to Sayors behavior with more hot cheeks and shy smiles. It was a mess, actually. It was just a good thing they weren't inside, with the well lit house installations shining down on his tomato compemxion that spread and burned the back of his neck and the tips of his ears. "Y-yeah? It's whatever..." Nathan waved it off with a hand, trying to appear nonchalant. He hoped it worked. Inside, he was a bit nervous, having just signed himself up to give his new neighbor rides to the hospital. He just didn't want her crazy parents objecting or making a big deal of it, or worse, crashing with her in it. That was his ultimate paranoia whenever he gave his friends rides places, even if Nathan was the safest driver in their group of friends. "Definitely, or... for anything, if you want," Nath added on with a grin. If she felt like going to get ice cream, he would take her. It was such a genius idea, for a way to have a date without making it too awkward. After all, he was still just looking to be her friend, nothing more... yet.
The night was still again, and the dogs were fast asleep. Inside, the family was finishing up deswrt, with his father's attempts to get everything put away so he could attend to his show on the discovery channel that evening. Desirae was beginning to feel like her chest was going to explode again, under Hudsons watchful eye and entertainment as Mr. Harrison cleaned the dining room up. Mrs Dunkley and Mrs Harrison chatted over the last of their desserts, worrying about their children outside somewhere this late, unsupervised. Nathaniel was quote content with where he was with Sayor, their legs touching as they sat casually in the hammock, almost laying on opposite ends now. "Yeah? Well, let me give you my number, maybe we could uh... hang out too sometime, before school starts," Nathaniel suggested sheepishly, digging inside his pockets for his cell phone.
((Probs won't be able to reply today...crazy busy))
Sayor could tell that Nath was resentful towards Desirae's birth parents, and she didnt blame him. Hudson hated her birth parents too. But this was different. Say honestly felt...grateful towards Des' parents. They had the decency to give her a new life, a chance at feeling motherly love, a big brother, a daddy who protected her. Sayor never had that. She was thankful Desirae did. No one should ever have to live through what Sayor has. Cancer and any abusive parents? She had a hard life, but it made her the person she was now. The fighter, the girl who was so stubborn a mule couldn't out last her, but also someone who was kind and loving when she wanted to be, someone who had the potential to be great, a leader. If she lived that long. Sayor nodded, agreeing with him. "I'm glad she has you too Nath. I may have just met her and all..but she reminds me of when I was her age, just a lot better off. She's gonna need a lot of tender loving Nathaniel... and I know you can give her that." Sayor didnt know why..but she already felt so attached to the sweet little red head. Sayor wanted to be there for her, because no one was there for baby her. It just seemed right. Nathaniel said something that stopped her in her smart Alec tracks. Everything happens for a reason.. Was he saying that her cancer happened for a reason? Her abusive parents kept her for a reason? What reason? Sayor said nothing, her mind turning that phrase over and over. Everything happens for a reason..
At the sight of her grin, Nath began to grin as well, both of them grinning like idiots about her cancer. Well okay not about her cancer, but that's what they had been talking about when they started grinning. Nath was just so sweet. The way he got nervous and blushed, fumbled over his words, spoke like he was walking on glass. He wasn't. There was literally nothing he could say to scare her off. She did live with her parents didnt she? It took a moment for Say to realize that her hand was still resting on his, so she pulled it away, blushing slightly. She had to keep it together, this was getting embarrassing. "Nothing. You're just cute." She said with a grin, relaxing into the hammock. She couldn't wait to see how red his face got after that one. He was too cute. His face seemed to get a little bit darker with her comments and grins. Was it bad that she found his nervousness attractive? Her grin spread across her features when he told her that if he said something wrong she had full freedom to slap him? How bad did he think he was? If anything he needed slapping rights. Sayor had no filter. None. Everything she was thinking came tumbling out of her mouth and spread like a fire to dry grass. It was hard to stop. "Okay Nate." She said teasingly, winking at him. She was glad that her mother was a brat and brought up her Cancer. She would have never gotten to have this..alone time with Nath. And that would have been so sad.
People like Nathaniel surprised her. He was just so...innocent and kind. It was like he was untouched by the cruelty of the world..and she loved it. His nervousness and stumbling was refreshing. He wasn't walking on egg shells because she was a cancer survivor, he was walking on egg shells because he was nice. He was nice. Nathaniel Harrison was a nice guy. He genuinely wanted to talk to her and it was different. Sayor who had been exsposed to the harshness of life and humanity at a very young age had a hard time being nice, so being around people like Nathaniel made her want to be better. His face was a cherry tomato red, while hers was just a pastel pink. She didnt blush easily, but somehow Nath got through to her stone cold heart. He tried to be so nonchalant about the fact that he had just offered to give her a ride to her doctors appointments. Maybe it wasn't a big deal to him, but to her? It was like someone told her that she was officially cured and her cancer would never ever come back again. It was a different, new feeling and she loved it. "Nath its not whatever to me. Its a really sweet thing to do, to offer. Thank you." After a moment of happy silence passed between the two, Nathaniel spoke again. Or any other time too. She wouldnt have to lie! "That sounds amazing Nath."
Back inside the house, Hudson was in protective mode times two. Sayor was somewhere unknown and Desirae was complaining about a tight chest and it was a little hard to breathe. He watched her carefully, knowing that it was on his shoulders to keep her safe. After Say stormed out and Nath followed, Hudson was even more angry. Now his cousin was somewhere around the house with a boy. No. But Desirae got out of her seat and walked over, taking his hand gently, asking if they were gonna be okay. And that's when they clicked. They were now playing Barbies in the TV room while her dad cleaned up. It was not ideal for Hudson, but Des wanted to play..so play he will. Just hopefully Sayor came back after they were done. He didnt think he could take that notch to his ego. Hudson was a big strong burly man. He was a senior, 17, nearly 18. A full year older than Say and Nathaniel. He could take Nathan any day, any time. Sayor on the other hand was oblivious to Hudsons worried thoughts and over protective urges. She was just fine where she was, swinging in the hammock with Nathaniel. It was nice to be with him. Refreshing. Sayor wanted to hang out more. He smiled sheepishly at her, digging out his cell phone out of his pocket. She did the same, but pulled it out of her dress pocket. That was the only nice thing about this dumb dress. Her phone fit in her pocket. "Of course! That would be so fun!" Sayor said with a grin, sitting forward and taking his phone from him and giving him hers. "Enter it in here..." Sayor entered her phone number into his phone, even taking a hot selfie for the contact picture. Oh yeah. The ladies would stay away after that one.
At the sight of her grin, Nath began to grin as well, both of them grinning like idiots about her cancer. Well okay not about her cancer, but that's what they had been talking about when they started grinning. Nath was just so sweet. The way he got nervous and blushed, fumbled over his words, spoke like he was walking on glass. He wasn't. There was literally nothing he could say to scare her off. She did live with her parents didnt she? It took a moment for Say to realize that her hand was still resting on his, so she pulled it away, blushing slightly. She had to keep it together, this was getting embarrassing. "Nothing. You're just cute." She said with a grin, relaxing into the hammock. She couldn't wait to see how red his face got after that one. He was too cute. His face seemed to get a little bit darker with her comments and grins. Was it bad that she found his nervousness attractive? Her grin spread across her features when he told her that if he said something wrong she had full freedom to slap him? How bad did he think he was? If anything he needed slapping rights. Sayor had no filter. None. Everything she was thinking came tumbling out of her mouth and spread like a fire to dry grass. It was hard to stop. "Okay Nate." She said teasingly, winking at him. She was glad that her mother was a brat and brought up her Cancer. She would have never gotten to have this..alone time with Nath. And that would have been so sad.
People like Nathaniel surprised her. He was just so...innocent and kind. It was like he was untouched by the cruelty of the world..and she loved it. His nervousness and stumbling was refreshing. He wasn't walking on egg shells because she was a cancer survivor, he was walking on egg shells because he was nice. He was nice. Nathaniel Harrison was a nice guy. He genuinely wanted to talk to her and it was different. Sayor who had been exsposed to the harshness of life and humanity at a very young age had a hard time being nice, so being around people like Nathaniel made her want to be better. His face was a cherry tomato red, while hers was just a pastel pink. She didnt blush easily, but somehow Nath got through to her stone cold heart. He tried to be so nonchalant about the fact that he had just offered to give her a ride to her doctors appointments. Maybe it wasn't a big deal to him, but to her? It was like someone told her that she was officially cured and her cancer would never ever come back again. It was a different, new feeling and she loved it. "Nath its not whatever to me. Its a really sweet thing to do, to offer. Thank you." After a moment of happy silence passed between the two, Nathaniel spoke again. Or any other time too. She wouldnt have to lie! "That sounds amazing Nath."
Back inside the house, Hudson was in protective mode times two. Sayor was somewhere unknown and Desirae was complaining about a tight chest and it was a little hard to breathe. He watched her carefully, knowing that it was on his shoulders to keep her safe. After Say stormed out and Nath followed, Hudson was even more angry. Now his cousin was somewhere around the house with a boy. No. But Desirae got out of her seat and walked over, taking his hand gently, asking if they were gonna be okay. And that's when they clicked. They were now playing Barbies in the TV room while her dad cleaned up. It was not ideal for Hudson, but Des wanted to play..so play he will. Just hopefully Sayor came back after they were done. He didnt think he could take that notch to his ego. Hudson was a big strong burly man. He was a senior, 17, nearly 18. A full year older than Say and Nathaniel. He could take Nathan any day, any time. Sayor on the other hand was oblivious to Hudsons worried thoughts and over protective urges. She was just fine where she was, swinging in the hammock with Nathaniel. It was nice to be with him. Refreshing. Sayor wanted to hang out more. He smiled sheepishly at her, digging out his cell phone out of his pocket. She did the same, but pulled it out of her dress pocket. That was the only nice thing about this dumb dress. Her phone fit in her pocket. "Of course! That would be so fun!" Sayor said with a grin, sitting forward and taking his phone from him and giving him hers. "Enter it in here..." Sayor entered her phone number into his phone, even taking a hot selfie for the contact picture. Oh yeah. The ladies would stay away after that one.
Desirae was a sensitive, tender subject for Nathaniel. She had been the little sister his parents could never have had due to his mother's "condition", and he was ever grateful to be gifted with the little redhead. He felt that because she was adopted into their family, and because she was always ill, that the family had learned to depend on each other more than ever, forming this tight knit home. It made Nathaniel upset to see people like Sayor and Hudson without the kind of oppurtunities he had, and it humbled him, he thought twice about complaining about how hard his chores were. They had a large home, plenty to eat, steady job and income sources, a loving connection of family and relatives, and they could afford what they needed. His family each took care of each other, doing their own respective parts of the household to make sure everything went smoothly. It was often his mother that picked up any slack on housework, although Nathaniel tried his best to keep up. Nath and Desirae were sheltered, one could say, from a majority of the horrors that happened in other houses, the reality of most people's lives. He didn't expect that the girl who sat next to him in English- and was always late never did her homework- worked a job before and after school to keep her family of four children and her sick mother, and never had time to focus on school. Nathaniel would never know those ugly bruises on his friend Winston's arms and back weren't from football, but from his brother and father. Nathaniel just never realized what was really out there, he'd never been exposed to it. He didn't think it could ever happen to him. The cruelty of Sayors own strange parents just came as a complete shock, foreign to hear from his precious ears. Just seeing how her family behaved, it broke his heart to know what really went on, how such a sweet girl could be abused in this way. Not take her to the hopsital for appointments? Her mother using Sayors cancer story as a bribe to get people to like them, take pity? It made Nathan sick.
Nathan nodded enthusiastically, trying not to seem so somber just thinking about his sisters health problems, and her birth parents negligence. Stupid people, how could they give up their beautiful baby girl? It would never matter to Nathan, she was perfect. Absolutely perfect. There wss nothing "wrong" with her. "I... I know," Nathaniel murmured softly, his fingers lacing into the loose netting fabric of the hammock. it was just a reminder that he was the big brother here, he would have a responsibility to help his little sister through her illness, despite how taxing it could be. He wouldn't let her down, he couldnt. Her life was too short to slacken on their relationship together, who knew when Desirae... Nathan blinked, inhaling softly at the depressing, ominous turn his thoughts were taking. He didn't need to think about that. His brown eyes flitted up across the pattern of Sayors polka dot dress, settling on her gentle blue eyes with a sigh. That was better.
It was just a relief to finally be taking about something else, the focus shifting back towards Sayors cancer. For some reason, they were grinning like the fools they were, just two silly teenagers in his backyard. So weird. It was all brand new to Nathaniel, to actually like a girl. She was pretty, but that wasn't all that drew him. Sayor was intelligent from the sounds of it, she was funny, sweet, and she was the laid back type. Like him! No over excessive makeup, huge purses, straightened hair, designer clothes... just a normal Sayor. And he liked it. He only thought of them as friends so far, with not too much on his mind about calling her his girlfriend. A guy and a girl could be good friends right? She was new to the area, they only lived a few houses apart, it was perfect. Finally, a girl he could talk to and be himself, not worry about some ditzy girl with too much mascara sucking his face like last time he agreed on doing the English group project at his house. Yeesh.
"Cute? I'm not-!" He sputtered, ducking his face away as if to look over the pool with a sudden intrest. He couldn't help but do his usual grin, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly as a soft hesitant laugh escaped him. What was wrong with him today? He couldn't be in love, not already... It was embarassing with how flattered he was by Sayors compliment, completely unaware that she could have meant cute as in little kid cute. He got that one sometimes too. They were relaxing into the hammock now, casual with each other. It no longer felt awkward like when they had first met at the front door with at scary Hudson. How long was it until Sayor would have to leave for the night? What did she think of him? How long would they remain friends? "Hey-! It's not Nate, I hate that name... Say," he protested back, howling in disagreement. Nate was just such an ugly nickname. Nath sounded better, Nathan would do, Harrison or Harry was fine, but never Nate. Besides, there was another kid at school named Nate, notorious for being a bully and having... problems.
Winking made his heart pound blood up to his ears. Sayor just winked at him, and Nathaniel couldn't be anymore flustered now with how awkward he was at flirting. Would it be weird if he winked back? Caught in the moment, Nathan made a face at Sayor, his tongue sticking out before he nudged her arm with his shoe. They were swaying slightly on the hammock, breezes fluttering in and out through the trees in his yard and ruffling their hair. It was just all too perfect. Could he be dreaming? He had to tell Alec, and Winston! He actually talked to to girl today. He was a bit off guard when she thanked him seriously, pointing out to him that what he had offered really meant alot to her, that it was a sweet thing. "It's no problem, really, you're very welcome," Nathan said after hesitating, the tips of his ears red even in the dim lighting of the yards lights strung above. "Im just a few houses down, if you ever need anything, or just need to get away from them a bit... just knock," Nath quirked a smile, trying his best to be serious and genuine without blushing so much. And... she called him Nath. It was so different hearing it from Sayor.
To his releief, asking for Sayors phone nunber had been alot less awkward than he had thought it would be. She didn't tease him, instead rummaging around in her dress pockets at his suggestion. This was pretty sweet. It gave Nathan a bit of an adrenaline fix of sorts, even if Sayor was going to be just a friend. She was still a girl... They traded phones, the girly case fitting into Nathaniel's larger hand easily. He typed in his first and last name, along with an emoji of the dizzy stars and the flexed arm. Heck yeah. Nathan watched Sayor with amusement as she posed for her own photo, and after a moment of contemplation, he did the same. Just in case she forgot who he was. Nath quickly opened his contact for editing, snapping a quick selfie of the hipster peace sign by his eyes, keeping a serious face. He hated smiling for pictures, he just thought he always looked ridiculous and cheesy. "Uh... here, it's under 'aaNathaniel Harrison'," he reported, exchanging Sayors phone for his own. He was pleasantly surprised with the little picture she left him, denying the fact that his cheeks were red again.
(view spoiler)
Sayor was anything but sheltered. Not with the enviornemnt and the people she had grown up with. Her best friend from kingergarten all the way up to seventh grade commuted suicide. Her cousin was abused by her mothers brother, Hudson's dad was killed arrested for drug possession, and his mother died of heart break, so he got stuck with her parents, and even though they were terrible, they werent as bad as other people. At least Sayor had clothes, food, and medical treatment. It was against the law for her mother to refuse to let Sayor get help. Her mom wasn't going to refuse it, but she wasn't going to help either. That was fine. Whatever...as long as Sayor got some treatment she would take it. Nathan however was as sheltered as sheltered could be. She was pretty sure his first day at junior high was scaring. Poor kid. He had probably learned about all of the swear words And was like...ohmygosh my ears are bleeding. Sayor on the other hand, was on the receiving end of that deal, starting at the age of 6. One year after she was diagnosed. It got to the point to where she actually thought her name was the B word, so when people asked for it, she gave it to them. Her mother pretended to be mortified, but it was all an act. She was the real b word. Seriously though, sometimes Sayor just wanted to wreck.
Nathaniel nodded very enthuisastically, his head bobbing up and down and Sayor could tell that a subject change was in order. Okay. changing subject. He was a lot like Hudson in that way. Hudson really hated talking about their family life, how she was diagnosed, how she was treated at home. He hated it because he could do nothing to change it and that made him so angry. Hudson was a major control freak, so when he couldn't control every aspect of her life, where she was, her health, her family, he got angry and bitter. So typically he changed the subject immediatley. She has seen it so many times. They'll be talking to mutual friends, and she'll be in a heavy debate with one of them, while Hudson is casually conversing with the other. The other will ask an innocent question...like how she is doing. Hudson always snaps and then changes the subject. Their friends just learned to ask Sayor instead of Hudson. It was a lot safer.
They were talking about a lot of things that were funny or smile worthy. Her cancer was not one of them, but they were both grinning like idiots discussing her cancer. All well. As long as he was smiling and relaxed, she was. Nathan and her were sort of similar in personality. He was smart, she was smart. He was laid back, she was laid back, they both had medical problems in their family, and they both lived in the neighborhood. Other than that...they were different. He was quieter than she was. Sayor was a very loud, oppinionated person. You say one thing she disagreed with and she let you know exactly how she felt about it. Like..bullying, abuse, feelings, character, personalities, kids..being a bystander. She let you know. Sayor was also a big rebel and a sass mouth. She often did the oposite of what people wanted, just to piss them off.
Sayor laughed at his protesting, her grin stretching across her face. How could she not think he was cute after that display? Honestly it was so adorable. Her hair flipped off of her shoulder and she just took a big deep breath. Alright. Time to calm down Sayor. "Yes you are! I bet you totally have a girlfriend already because you are so cute." She said with a smile, using her leg to push the swing lightly. There was no way he hadn't been swept up already. How could anyone resist Nathaniel Harrison? He had the cutest smile and way about him that just melted your heart. He was so sweet and protective of his little sister that it was adorable, and his awkward habits and way of life was just irresistable. Sayor smirked, amused before she nodded. "Alright Harry. And you can call me Say. You just cant call me just plain or because thats awkward."
Sayor gladly exchanged numbers with Nath, happily going along with whatever he wanted. As long as she didn't have to make the first move she was totally fine with whatever. She entered her name with a cute kissy face emoji and a heart. If his girlfriend saw that...hahah. That would be comical assuming he had one. She hoped he didn't. She grinned to herself, running her fingers through her hair before taking the cutest selfie she ever had. Her smile was wide, her eyes twinkling and her hair falling just right. She had never taken that cute of a selfie. It was great. Sayor grinned and handed him his phone her huge smile still plastered onto her face. "Mines under My lover." She said seriously, watching his expression before cracking a smile. "Nah just kidding its under Sayor Dunkley."
He was so easy to tease. It was nice. The sound of footprints made Say look away from Nathaniel's bright red face, seeing an out of breath, smirking Hudson. "Alright love birds, Im sorry to break this up but my aunt, and her mother is going to murder us if we stay any longer because I just destroyed any chance she has of being your mothers friend." He had this wild and crazed look and Sayor couldn't help but feel panicked. "What did you do?" She asked, her face pale. She was always the one that got blamed for her cousins antics. What did he do? "Well.....she asked me if it was hard for you, you know having cancer and I said, when the devil was within earshot, very loudly 'Well it would be easier if her mother didn't call her a lazy, good for nothing, waste of time and money when she was in the hospital dying.' And then the devil like freaked. It was awesome." He said with a happy grin, wrapping his arm around her. All Sayor could think was how dead she was. "We are screwed."
Nathaniel nodded very enthuisastically, his head bobbing up and down and Sayor could tell that a subject change was in order. Okay. changing subject. He was a lot like Hudson in that way. Hudson really hated talking about their family life, how she was diagnosed, how she was treated at home. He hated it because he could do nothing to change it and that made him so angry. Hudson was a major control freak, so when he couldn't control every aspect of her life, where she was, her health, her family, he got angry and bitter. So typically he changed the subject immediatley. She has seen it so many times. They'll be talking to mutual friends, and she'll be in a heavy debate with one of them, while Hudson is casually conversing with the other. The other will ask an innocent question...like how she is doing. Hudson always snaps and then changes the subject. Their friends just learned to ask Sayor instead of Hudson. It was a lot safer.
They were talking about a lot of things that were funny or smile worthy. Her cancer was not one of them, but they were both grinning like idiots discussing her cancer. All well. As long as he was smiling and relaxed, she was. Nathan and her were sort of similar in personality. He was smart, she was smart. He was laid back, she was laid back, they both had medical problems in their family, and they both lived in the neighborhood. Other than that...they were different. He was quieter than she was. Sayor was a very loud, oppinionated person. You say one thing she disagreed with and she let you know exactly how she felt about it. Like..bullying, abuse, feelings, character, personalities, kids..being a bystander. She let you know. Sayor was also a big rebel and a sass mouth. She often did the oposite of what people wanted, just to piss them off.
Sayor laughed at his protesting, her grin stretching across her face. How could she not think he was cute after that display? Honestly it was so adorable. Her hair flipped off of her shoulder and she just took a big deep breath. Alright. Time to calm down Sayor. "Yes you are! I bet you totally have a girlfriend already because you are so cute." She said with a smile, using her leg to push the swing lightly. There was no way he hadn't been swept up already. How could anyone resist Nathaniel Harrison? He had the cutest smile and way about him that just melted your heart. He was so sweet and protective of his little sister that it was adorable, and his awkward habits and way of life was just irresistable. Sayor smirked, amused before she nodded. "Alright Harry. And you can call me Say. You just cant call me just plain or because thats awkward."
Sayor gladly exchanged numbers with Nath, happily going along with whatever he wanted. As long as she didn't have to make the first move she was totally fine with whatever. She entered her name with a cute kissy face emoji and a heart. If his girlfriend saw that...hahah. That would be comical assuming he had one. She hoped he didn't. She grinned to herself, running her fingers through her hair before taking the cutest selfie she ever had. Her smile was wide, her eyes twinkling and her hair falling just right. She had never taken that cute of a selfie. It was great. Sayor grinned and handed him his phone her huge smile still plastered onto her face. "Mines under My lover." She said seriously, watching his expression before cracking a smile. "Nah just kidding its under Sayor Dunkley."
He was so easy to tease. It was nice. The sound of footprints made Say look away from Nathaniel's bright red face, seeing an out of breath, smirking Hudson. "Alright love birds, Im sorry to break this up but my aunt, and her mother is going to murder us if we stay any longer because I just destroyed any chance she has of being your mothers friend." He had this wild and crazed look and Sayor couldn't help but feel panicked. "What did you do?" She asked, her face pale. She was always the one that got blamed for her cousins antics. What did he do? "Well.....she asked me if it was hard for you, you know having cancer and I said, when the devil was within earshot, very loudly 'Well it would be easier if her mother didn't call her a lazy, good for nothing, waste of time and money when she was in the hospital dying.' And then the devil like freaked. It was awesome." He said with a happy grin, wrapping his arm around her. All Sayor could think was how dead she was. "We are screwed."
Sayor just had to insist that he was cute. Cute? He was sheepish now, his smile so wide he felt his face splitting in half at the cheeks. His face was on fire. Was he sweating? His skin felt hot, his cheeks were blazing, and his arms felt the same despite the cool fall breeze that drifted through the yard. This was so dumb... He never got this red, not even when Paisley was all over him, or that one time he burped during his group presentation in front of this girl he used to like. So why was he blushing so hard in front of Sayor? "Shut up, I'm not cute, I'm a guy! I'm supposed to be manly not cute!" Nathaniel giggled, sweeping his hand through his hair in a single fluid motion. Their moods had gone from worried, depressed, upset, dark, now to this flirtatious conversation, upbeat, playful. He wasnt used to all this, but it was actually... nice talking to Sayor. Even if a person of her background was unusual to be in his friends list, he was finding himself intrigued and very much interested in getting to know Miss Sayor. She was pretty funny, and she actually wasn't lame and weird.The fact that Sayor assumed that he actually had a girlfriend (him, of all people? come on) was flattering, and only made his stomach flip and flutter. What made her say that? Did she actually think he was cute, or good looking? He had glasses, he was tall, on the lanky side, he didn't commit to going to gym every afternoon like all the football kids that girls seemed to fall for more often. It made Nathaniel giddy with a hope, pleasantly delighted with her compliments. He needed to hang out with her more. "A girlfriend? Oh, Sayor-!" He guffawed, genuinely surprised she would say something like that. It was a bit sad the way he viewed himself sometimes of not having a girlfriend or being forever alone as most teachers dwelled on most of the time, but the truth was... he could get most any girl he wanted. His innocence, his good attitude, his academic excellence, involvement with school and sports, as well as his genuine equality towards all, not to mention his smile and kind behavior, it all scored him brownie points with the teachers and other students. Namely the females, who loved to be his lab partner in sciences, or jumped into his groups for projects.
He was likeable by most everybody, caused no problems, engaged in chivalrous manners like no other. He opened the door for people, picked up dropped papers and books, surprised his friends from time to time with lunch to brighten their day. Nathaniel had been to every single one of the school dances with different girls, not wanting to be one who turned down a date or sometimes arranged by his buddies to go with the odd one out. But girlfriend? Nathaniel had never had one. Girls nowadays seemed so fake, or just when he thought they liked him back, the girl was going out with some other guy. It was pretty sad, but Nath wasn't concerned too much about busying himself with a girlfriend, another worry to his busy schedule between cross country practice, club track practice, ASB Leadership, homework, and family affairs. A girlfriend meant that you had to go on dates, he wasn't sure if he could handle another thing anyway.
Harry. So he was Harry now. It wss a nickname he never had really gone by before , but it was just there. Sayor he wasn't to sure what exactly she could call her, Say? Or? Dunk? He would definitely need some sort of nickname for her, just for the fun of it. He wanted to be a part of this. "Alright, Say, for now... I'll find something, it could be like code names-!" He grinned foolishly, kicking himself internally when he said it. Shut up, Nathan! He fiddled with the glasses that were hooked unto the breast pocket of his shirt, cleaning them vigorously with the edge of his tshirt to avoid questioning glances from Sayor. Code names? Was he 5? She spoke up again, not even missing a beat when she told him what her contact name was. Anyone who saw Nathans horrified and confused expression would have been deeply amused, never left him alone about it. "R-really?" He squeaked, scrambling to withdraw his phone from his Jean pocket. She had to be joking- and she was. Nathaniel had been literally scrolling in his contacts for the name My Lover, curious, when Sayor admitted that it was only Sayor Dunkley. It was a relief, yet also a bummer. His friends faces when they saw that contact name...
"Wooow, Say, whatever," Nathaniel rolled his eyes. He was so gullible, and Sayor had just tricked him into checking his phone for something that anyone could probably have detected as being false. Maybe after she had called him cute, he assumed everything now that Sayor said was true. While his face recovered from a bright red meltdown, a shadow approached quickly, footsteps thudding on the pavement by the pool. A male figure? Hudson. Nath shoved his phone back into his pocket, moving his clean glasses back onto his eyes. He was a bit disappointed and cross with Hudson for interrupting them, wishing he could have more time with Sayor Ray Dunkley, his "lover". Would he see her soon? He had to, they lived practically next to each other. Even if the houses were spaced pretty far apart with large spaces for land particularly on his family plot of land, it couldn't have taken more than five minutes to get to sayors house. On foot.
Nathaniel sat up now, his legs swung back iver so they were both touching the ground and stabilizing the hammock. Hudson had done what? Nath balked, his jaw dropping in the slightest in disbelief as Hudson excitedly shared the tale of what had gone down in the house while he and Sayor had been out here blushing and giggling like lovebirds. Exactly. "H-hudson! Why'd you do that-! Your aunt is gonna kill you!" Nathaniel was horrified, worried genuinely while Hudson laughed good natured ly and hugged Sayor like it was nothing big. His mother no doubt was probably giving Mrs Dunkley a lesson right now about how to treat children and such. "Come on, let's get you guys home, before she freaks out even worse!" Nathan laughed uneasily, standing from the hammock leaving it unbalanced with Sayor on the other end. The dogs had gotten up, their tails wagging as they sniffed Hudson and barked a few times.
Sayor was a little pissed off that Hudson did that without her! Gosh! She wanted to be in that room when her mother got that look and got all pissed off...oh that would be priceless. "eh. Don't worry Harry, she'll get us anyway, might as well be something we deserve." Sayor said with a small shrug, nudging him with her elbow gently. It was sweet that he was so worried about her. They walked forward, Hudson's arm around her shoulders protectively, Nathan following on her free side. They walked inside, her mother fighting with his. It was about to get dangerous. "Okay Mom, let's go." Sayor said softly, letting Hudson take their moms arm and drag her out of the house. "I'm sorry about my parents behavior...um I promise Hudson and I are nothing like them. They are just..yeah. No. Anyway, have a good rest of the night, and um once again I am so sorry." She said softly, looking into the eyes of his mother, Nathan and the dad. Des was somewhere...playing Barbie's or something or other. She bit her lip, looking back as Hudson called her name. "I gotta go..thanks again for putting up with us." She said softly, giving them, hopefully a smile that would win their hearts because she really didnt want to have to go against Nath's parents wishes when she wanted to see them. She didnt care what her parents had to say, they sucked. Sayor turned away, her short blonde hair flying behind her as she jogged to the car, climbing into the backseat and looking down as her mother spun around. Muffled yelling could be heard as they drove away, and it sucked.
Nathan had text Sayor a while later, asking if she was alright. How cute was that? He cared to know if she was okay! She had sent a quick one back, saying how devil lady was all bark and no bite. Most of the time. They were lucky that time was one of those times. They ended up texting all night, Sayor hiding up in her attic bedroom with Hudson asleep on her bed. It was her first night back, and he was so anxious about her he had to sleep in the same room or else he had nightmares or something. Sayor didnt question it. She knew what nightmares were like. She didnt wish that upon anyone. Eventually Sayor fell asleep before Nathan had texted her back, not seeing his invitation to go to ice cream and then back to school night. When she awoke she had five new texts waiting for her, all of them Nathan doubting himself. She couldn't help but chuckle as she sent a quick reassuring reply that yes, she wanted to go, and no, she wasn't freaked out he asked, she just fell asleep.
They texted a lot leading up to the back to school night, Sayors excitement getting greater and greater with each passing hour. She had to deal with clingy Hudson all week, her drunk dad and her bratty mom. It would be nice to have a break. Hudson had already found and met the popular kids at the school at some diner and town, introducing her and giving the stink eye to everyone who looked at her twice. With that bear she would never get a date. With reluctance, and much begging on Sayors end, Hudson agreed to let her go with Nathan all by herself and he went with his new found friends. Yes. When he gave in, Sayor was over the moon with happiness, needing to go and find the cutest outfit ever. With no luck. There was nothing cheep and inexpensive at the store that she could purchase. She was doomed.
The days were drawing nearer and nearer and Nathan and Sayor talked constantly. She helped babysit sometimes, he came over and hid from her mom with her. Yet, the only thing on her mind was their inoffical date. What would he do? Would he have fun? Would there be other people? Sayor was having a mini panic attack over something that shouldnt be a big deal, yet it was. A huge deal. Finally, the day arrived. Sayor had settled on a t shirt with some overall shorts. It was cute, she looked good, according to Hudson who was currently trying to help calm her nerves. He wasn't doing a very good job. She pulled some sunglasses on, strutting around her room. "You like?" She asked, her hand on her hip. Hudson nodded, smiling at her. "I love."
Nathan had text Sayor a while later, asking if she was alright. How cute was that? He cared to know if she was okay! She had sent a quick one back, saying how devil lady was all bark and no bite. Most of the time. They were lucky that time was one of those times. They ended up texting all night, Sayor hiding up in her attic bedroom with Hudson asleep on her bed. It was her first night back, and he was so anxious about her he had to sleep in the same room or else he had nightmares or something. Sayor didnt question it. She knew what nightmares were like. She didnt wish that upon anyone. Eventually Sayor fell asleep before Nathan had texted her back, not seeing his invitation to go to ice cream and then back to school night. When she awoke she had five new texts waiting for her, all of them Nathan doubting himself. She couldn't help but chuckle as she sent a quick reassuring reply that yes, she wanted to go, and no, she wasn't freaked out he asked, she just fell asleep.
They texted a lot leading up to the back to school night, Sayors excitement getting greater and greater with each passing hour. She had to deal with clingy Hudson all week, her drunk dad and her bratty mom. It would be nice to have a break. Hudson had already found and met the popular kids at the school at some diner and town, introducing her and giving the stink eye to everyone who looked at her twice. With that bear she would never get a date. With reluctance, and much begging on Sayors end, Hudson agreed to let her go with Nathan all by herself and he went with his new found friends. Yes. When he gave in, Sayor was over the moon with happiness, needing to go and find the cutest outfit ever. With no luck. There was nothing cheep and inexpensive at the store that she could purchase. She was doomed.
The days were drawing nearer and nearer and Nathan and Sayor talked constantly. She helped babysit sometimes, he came over and hid from her mom with her. Yet, the only thing on her mind was their inoffical date. What would he do? Would he have fun? Would there be other people? Sayor was having a mini panic attack over something that shouldnt be a big deal, yet it was. A huge deal. Finally, the day arrived. Sayor had settled on a t shirt with some overall shorts. It was cute, she looked good, according to Hudson who was currently trying to help calm her nerves. He wasn't doing a very good job. She pulled some sunglasses on, strutting around her room. "You like?" She asked, her hand on her hip. Hudson nodded, smiling at her. "I love."
Nathaniel grew to like Sayor alot, as a friend at first. She was funny, sweet, and entertaining to talk to. He enjoyed her company even over a screen, spending each morning scrolling through whatever text he had missed from her, then replying with awfully lengthy replies isntead of his usual "ok" and "sure". He was in a significantly better mood all the time, and his parents seemed to notice. They discussed the Duncan's at their own dinners almost every night, looking back at the silly turn of events and mostly laughing at how odd the night had been. His mother pressed him for information about what he and Sayor had been doing, what they had talked about when she stormed out of the room during dessert. Of course, Nath just gave her a little smile, and changed the subject. He had a secret with Sayor, and that was their little friendship, his vow to driver her to appointments and take her on that ice cream date he had promised her. It honestly made him so nervous to think about Sayor, wishing she didn't have to be so far away three houses down. He avoided his morning runs to come across her front lawn, so she would never see him all sweaty and out of breath, and also to dodge the event of meeting up with Sayors parents or Hudson. They all scared him immensely, and his parents agreed thoroughly. As far as the Duncan's were concermed, Sayor and Hudson were the only ones welcomed back. Nathan eventually after the first week since the dinner told his closest friends about Sayor, his two main pals that had been his closest confidents since kindergarten. They often teased him about it, accusing him of having a crush, and Nath turned it down each and every time. However, it was growing harder and harder to deny the idea that maybe he did like Sayor more than friends, especially if he could only look at the way her smile lit up her e tire face in her contact photo. It made him wonder if she thought of him often, if she ever wanted to hang out again. Over frequent texting and brief visits checking the mail, Nathaniel got to know his new neighbor. She was itnerestijg, and had such a tender soul. Being in a a conversation with Sayor helped Nathan to feel a little better about himself, better about the conditions he was thrown in, about all the dishes his mother said he had to do. It wss the brighter side of the rainbow, the greener grass. Her glass was always half full, and Nathan sometimes needed to see that part of it all.
It was back to school day, when they'd be taking pictures and getting assembled together for classes starting after the weekend. He didn't want summer to end, for the freedom of being able to eskr up late to disappear again for several long hard worthless months! What mattered was that cross country season at least would start up, rending him busy for the next few weeks with meets and practices and competitions. Maybe he'd get Sayor to come with him, join. Due to the back to school day, Nathan was exempt from practice for once, and had invited Sayor to finally go out to the ice cream place local, and hang out for a while before going to the school togrther. He'd introduce his friends, help Sayor become acquainted with the campus and the teachers. It would be a fun date, had Nathaniel been able to relax about it.
One in the afternoon on the Wednesday before school started, and Nath was quite ready. He had showered and done all his chores, then done his hair. He hadn't wanted to dress up too fancy for their first unofficial friend date and give Sayor the wrong idea. He hadn't seen her since the dinner gone wrong almost a week or two ago, and so he wanted to still be someone she wanted to hang out with. He wore a military green short sleeve casual button down shirt, with his favorite pair of dark jeans. He had a string woven friendship bracelet from Des on his wrist, paired with a white watch. Naths brown hair was growing to be long, so his usual gelling routine made it so that his hair still flopped up in some places. His favorite cologne was spritz ed on his chest, then he popped a piece of mint gum in his mouth. He was ready for their little date. Even though he kept telling himself that they were jsut two friends going our for ice cream before orientation, he kept having this odd excited bubbling in his stomach when he thought about her. Sayor. Over text,vhed learned so much about her, and he liked the companionship she offered.
"Mom! I'm leaving!" Nathaniel hollored up the stairs, his car keys gripped in his hand. He had his wallet and his phone, and had confirmed that he was leaving the house to go pick up Sayor over text. Hudson had reluctantly let her go this time, according to her. "Okay honey! Be safe! Don't forget to get a new lock!" His mother's voice echoed from upstairs, where she was helping Desirae clean her room. "Bye, Nathy!" Des peered iver the second floor, grinning toothily and waving as he stepped out the front doors. There was a cool breeze in the air, perfect for the fall weather they all expected every year. Nathaniel had to admit he was slightly nervous and anxious driving up the street, searching for Sayors house with flitting blue eyes. At last he parked his vehicle in her driveway, cutting the engine. He wouldn't just honk or text her to come out like ehe usually did with his buddies, he'd be a man about it. And so Nathaniel lifted a hesitant fist to knock on their door, before stepping back.
Over the week, Sayor and Nathaniel had grown really close. They texted nearly 24/7, Nath usually getting her into a giddy mood with a happy message he had sent her, his charming comments making her blush furiously. It got on Hudson's nerves. A lot. He teased her a ton, but Sayor knew it was more than that. He was scared she would get hurt. He had to know however, that Nathaniel was one of the sweetest guys she had ever met. He was the type of guy to want to remain friends with his ex's, and when he moved on, he took things slow. He was obviously a very slow and steady guy, just what she needed. He learned more about her in a week than what her parents knee after 16 years. It was amazing. He made her feel so special and fluttery and girly and it was a feeling she didnt want to go away. They chatted often when sent to go get the mail, and she typically got a call from Nath every time her heard her mothers yelling from three doors down. She noticed when he walked past her house, usually staring at the front window to see if she was there. She was typically watching from the attic window where her bedroom was. But Sayor knew she could count on him coming day by day. And maybe that was what she needed. Something constant. She liked it.
Sayor placed a hat on her head, glancing at Hudson. This was really important. They were going out for ice cream and then going to school. Not only was she going with someone she really, genuinely liked, but she was meeting potential friends and that made her a little nervous. "Hat?" She asked, glancing at her cousin who looked up from his phone with a bored expression. "Yeah, it looks great Sayor. Still don't love you going out without me. What if you pass out again?" He asked, sitting up on her bed. Sayor smiled, walking away from her mirror to give Hudson a hug. "Don't worry. I'm fine. It'll be fine okay? I won't be gone long." She promised, placing her sunglasses over her eyes. It was still sunny out, and hot. She figured that sunglasses would be appropriate. Hudson sighed, handing her her phone. "He's on his way then." Sayor grinned with excitement, the butterflies going insane at just the mention of his name. She was so excited. Her first friend in forever. And maybe..maybe he would turn into even more some day. Not soon though, Hudson would have a heart attack.
She grabbed her brown messenger bag, slipping it over her head and then her shoes, when there was a loud knock at the door. Thankfully neither of her parents were home so she didnt have to worry about that. Her parents didnt know she was going out with Nathaniel that night, they didnt know she was leaving with another person at all. She had taken to hiding in her room from her parents, taking the phrase out of sight, out of mind to heart. Sayor took her time getting the door, not wanting to seem to eager. She had already sprayed her American Eagle Vintage perfume, had one half of a piece of gum in her mouth so she didnt chomp it, and she felt ready. As ready as she would ever be. Sayor took a deep breath, and opened the door to reveal her new best friend.
Sayor grinned at him, her sunglasses resting on the rim of her hat, her big eyes sparkling. He was here. They were actually going out for ice cream and hanging out people. She was nervous..but excited. What if she blew it? However, if he still liked her after that first meeting, nothing could really ruin it now..right? "Hey!" She said excitedly, letting him inside. "So glad you're hear! I just have to grab my wallet and a couple papers for the school and we can go!" Sayor shot him an enthusiastic grin before going up stairs, passing Hudson who was on his way down. "Hey Harry." He said with a small nod, looking him up and down. "Looking nice. Take care of my sister okay? I want her home by 9:30. Because our parents get home at 10 so yeah. Home by 9:30." Hudson was being nice that night knowing that they both liked each other, but also knowing neither had the guts to do anything about it, so they should be safe. Nath couldn't do too much damage to her yet.
Sayor skipped back downstairs, popping a gum bubble before nodding at Nath. "I'm ready, let's get out of here." She turned to leave, only to be stopped by a loud cough from Hudson. Idiot. She turned around, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then grabbing Nath's hand, and dragging him outside. "Let's go! I'm so excited!" She said happily, letting go of his hand to get into the car. She missed holding it. Was that weird? Yes. It was weird. She should fix that. She just..really liked to hold his hand. It was like...the electricity was crazy. Or was the correct term fireworks? Sparks? Connecrion? Sayor didnt know. Weird. She would have to learn. "I have never been to one of these before." She admitted, slipping her ray bans over her eyes as the sun shined down on them. She had never gone to back to school nights...never wanted to. Why go to the back to school night if it just meant she was days from school starting again. She always avoided it. Now however, she was really excited. Was everyone here like Nath? She hoped so. "So where are we going for icecream?"
Sayor placed a hat on her head, glancing at Hudson. This was really important. They were going out for ice cream and then going to school. Not only was she going with someone she really, genuinely liked, but she was meeting potential friends and that made her a little nervous. "Hat?" She asked, glancing at her cousin who looked up from his phone with a bored expression. "Yeah, it looks great Sayor. Still don't love you going out without me. What if you pass out again?" He asked, sitting up on her bed. Sayor smiled, walking away from her mirror to give Hudson a hug. "Don't worry. I'm fine. It'll be fine okay? I won't be gone long." She promised, placing her sunglasses over her eyes. It was still sunny out, and hot. She figured that sunglasses would be appropriate. Hudson sighed, handing her her phone. "He's on his way then." Sayor grinned with excitement, the butterflies going insane at just the mention of his name. She was so excited. Her first friend in forever. And maybe..maybe he would turn into even more some day. Not soon though, Hudson would have a heart attack.
She grabbed her brown messenger bag, slipping it over her head and then her shoes, when there was a loud knock at the door. Thankfully neither of her parents were home so she didnt have to worry about that. Her parents didnt know she was going out with Nathaniel that night, they didnt know she was leaving with another person at all. She had taken to hiding in her room from her parents, taking the phrase out of sight, out of mind to heart. Sayor took her time getting the door, not wanting to seem to eager. She had already sprayed her American Eagle Vintage perfume, had one half of a piece of gum in her mouth so she didnt chomp it, and she felt ready. As ready as she would ever be. Sayor took a deep breath, and opened the door to reveal her new best friend.
Sayor grinned at him, her sunglasses resting on the rim of her hat, her big eyes sparkling. He was here. They were actually going out for ice cream and hanging out people. She was nervous..but excited. What if she blew it? However, if he still liked her after that first meeting, nothing could really ruin it now..right? "Hey!" She said excitedly, letting him inside. "So glad you're hear! I just have to grab my wallet and a couple papers for the school and we can go!" Sayor shot him an enthusiastic grin before going up stairs, passing Hudson who was on his way down. "Hey Harry." He said with a small nod, looking him up and down. "Looking nice. Take care of my sister okay? I want her home by 9:30. Because our parents get home at 10 so yeah. Home by 9:30." Hudson was being nice that night knowing that they both liked each other, but also knowing neither had the guts to do anything about it, so they should be safe. Nath couldn't do too much damage to her yet.
Sayor skipped back downstairs, popping a gum bubble before nodding at Nath. "I'm ready, let's get out of here." She turned to leave, only to be stopped by a loud cough from Hudson. Idiot. She turned around, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then grabbing Nath's hand, and dragging him outside. "Let's go! I'm so excited!" She said happily, letting go of his hand to get into the car. She missed holding it. Was that weird? Yes. It was weird. She should fix that. She just..really liked to hold his hand. It was like...the electricity was crazy. Or was the correct term fireworks? Sparks? Connecrion? Sayor didnt know. Weird. She would have to learn. "I have never been to one of these before." She admitted, slipping her ray bans over her eyes as the sun shined down on them. She had never gone to back to school nights...never wanted to. Why go to the back to school night if it just meant she was days from school starting again. She always avoided it. Now however, she was really excited. Was everyone here like Nath? She hoped so. "So where are we going for icecream?"
Sayor swung the front door open, energetically greeting him. Nathan had to catch his breath, stunned by how well his friend could pull of something like overalls. She was beautiful, he found himself thinking, and smelled good too. His cheeks flushed a faint pink, as he raised a shy hand to wave. "Hey," he returned feebly, a smile on his lips. "Uh.. yeah! I'll just wait down here, take your time," Nathaniel encouraged, stepping inside the house hesitantly. He feared that her parents would come around the corner at any moment, or thst Hudson would come out of nowhere and tackle him. He smoothed his hair back yet again, before shoving his hands in his pockets. It was refreshing seeing Sayor in the flesh again, to actually be going out somewhere with her instead of being seperated by a screen. Their first little date, and Nathan felt the anxiety kick in. What if she stopped liking him? Why did he care so much?Of course, Hudson showed up. It caught Nath off guard, because Sayors brother still made him nervous, no matter what. Just passing in front of their house when Hudson was mowing the lawn or getting mail made Nathan insides churn. "Sup Hudson," Nathaniel offered meekly, playing with the fabric inside of his Jean pockets now as he tried to keep his folding stomach from doing anything weird. Why was Hudson looking at him like that? Oh no... did he have something on his face? Instinctively, Nath swiped at his cheeks and around his mouth, chewing his gum furiously in case there was soemthing in his teeth as well. He could have sworn he was clean before he left...! It was jsut a relief to hear Hudson compliment him instead after the longest silence he had ever had to endure, breathing omce more. He had Hudsons okay. "Th-thanks, and I will make sure she gets home by then. Don't worry!" Nathaniel managed, trying to hide the fear in his voice. He didn't know what it was about Hudson, but he felt like the cousin didn't like him very much at all. Ever since day one.
The orientation ended around seven, so it would give them maybe about two hours to go around town or something, or come back to Naths house and watch a movie. The options were limitless, and when given this huge time window, he felt pressure. What if he was a boring friend? What if she didn't find him entertaining? Worse, what if she fell for one of his friends? Nathaniel was having these weird fears he'd never had before, uncertain and shaky on everything. He had denied liking Sayor as anything more than a friend before, but now, he didn't know what to think. After texting so frequently nearly every second of the day, they'd gotten to know each other more than anyone else had ever before. It still didn't disguise the fact that he was awkward again in person, someone who was too shy and gentle to be as outgoing and spontaneous as Sayor. He just hoped he was able to loosen up by the end of the day.
The peppy blonde came bouncing down the stairs in awfully good spirits, and Nathan straightened up a little taller. His lanky tallness felt absurd next to someone who was shorter and well proportioned next to him, feeling mismatched and untrendy with such a simple outfit choice compared to Sayors. She seemed like she belonged in some teen advertisement for the popular clothing brands they had nowadays, while he just looked like he didn't put effort into coordinating anything. Nath forced hismelf yet again to swallow his thoughts, brightening as she joined them on the first floor landing. "Lets," Nath agreed, giving Hudson a nervous glance when he coughed fearing he had said something wrong. Sayor simply pecked her cousins cheek and gave him a hug, before tugging Nathan out the front door without another word from Hudson. "Me too! It's been so long since I've seen you," Nathaniel said as a matter of factly, his hand grasping hers all the same. It was weird to hold a girls hand, as he never held anyone's but his sisters, sometimes his mothers. Sayors hand was small and soft, yet his bony fingers wrapped around them perfectly.
Back out in the sunshine, Nathan unlocked his car, reluctantly releasing Sayors hand to climb in to the drivers seat. He had cleaned the vehicle out the previous day, so the windows were clean, not a single speck of dirt was visible on the carpets or seats. All this effort, just for Sayor. There had to be something wrong with him, Nathan didn't like it. Sayor was ruling his thoughts, and as much as he tried, he couldnt get her out of his head. Being able to smell her perfume in the car even killed him, hating how someone so flawless had such a heavy impact on him. "Never been to one of what? Buckle your seatbelt, I have to return you in one piece," Nath joked, clipping himself in before starting the engine. Hudson would kill him if he put his cousin in any sort of danger! Sayors eyes were shielded by a large pair of dark sunglasses as he maneuvered out of the driveway, back onto the main street of the neighborhood. He hoped they didn't see anyone from school at this place! "Does Baskin Robbins sound okay?" Nathan hesitated, earnestly asking for her opinion as they cruised easily along the roads, back out of the neighborhood towards the city streets.
Sayor smiled her cute little smile at him when she opened the door, and felt her heart jump into her throat. He was so hot. Way hotter than the last time she saw him. She noticed how he no longer had his glasses in his shirt pocket or on his face. They were MIA. He smiled at her, causing her heart to flutter. Ah. What a babe. "Hey yourself." She said with a small grin, feeling a little self conscious. Did she look like she was trying too hard? Maybe she should have just worn some soccer shorts and a T-shirt. Was she over dressed? Crap. Sayor ran up stairs, grabbing her school stuff, fixing her hair and giving herself one last once over. She was so nervous. What if she screwed it up? Goodbye any chance of having Nathaniel as a friend, best friend..maybe even more. She took a deep breath, prepared to stay in there until she got herself under control, but then..it occurred to her. Hudson was downstairs. Hudson. Shoot. Hudson. He was going to scare Nathaniel off and now she really wouldn't have any friends. He was so overprotective. It was kind of annoying.
Hudson smirked as Nathaniel nervously wiped at his face, managing to squeek out a soft "Sup Hudson." What a dork. Hudson was glad that Nath was scared of him already, it made everything a whole lot easier. Hudson was very protective of Sayor, having grown so attached to her over the years. She was his little bit of sanity in their crazy world. Boys would come and go, but Hudson wasn't going to leave her side. Sure she would find a "best friend" but no one would be better than him. Hudson had taken it upon himself to fill the roll that Mr. Dunkley was supposed to have taken, but because he was a pig he didnt. Hudson was the big man on campus, the one that threatened all the guys that came to their door for her. The one that protected her and made sure she wasn't Hurt. Harry here seemed like a good kid, but, just on case, Hudson wasn't taking any chances. "Good-" He was about to go on, but Sayor walked downstairs, her smile brighter than it had been in a while. Gross. Love.
Sayor had been teased by Hudson all week about Nath, and the entire time she just insisted that they were only friends, but as she walked down those stairs, she couldn't help but feel like she was on her way to prom with her boyfriend or something. The way he looked at her made her feel like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and it made her heart soar. Sayor felt pretty and that was something that had never happened before. She spent a lot of her time growing up bald. She never had a boyfriend, never really had crushes either. When you are minutes from death, you don't have time to worry about that stuff. You just focus on living. And her journey to recovery wasn't very beautiful either. At one point she had little fuzzy sticks at the end of her head for hair. She looked terrible, and it was hard. It was a hard battle that she constantly fought. However, the look that Nathaniel gave her made her forget all of that. To him, she could tell she was beautiful. And that was all that mattered.
Sayor couldn't help but agree with his statement on how they haven't seen each other in forever. They hadnt. "I know! But we talk a lot so that's good." She pointed out, winking slyly at him. Sayor was an interesting character. She was flirty, spunky, cheerful, her pessimistic, and could be a grump. But, Nath seemed to like her. He texted her every day without fail, even when she was in the crappiest mood. He some how seemed to cheer her up with just a hello, his happy disposition and innocence so refreshing. He was just so positive and nice. He really was quite the opposite of her, but they were a good match. They got alone well, and she wouldnt trade that for the world. Say looked around the car, noticing how clean his car was. Was this for real? It was the cleanest car she had ever seen. "Woah..your car is really great." She pointed out, not even thinking about the fact that she should get buckled. it just didnt cross her mind.
Until Nath said anything that is. She blushed, nodding. Seat belts were important. How could she forget those? "Sorry, slipped my mind." Sayor forgot often, and got in trouble for it. A lot. She forgot what time to be home, when her parents wanted her to appear for her nightly scolding, what time to be at work, what days she worked. She forgot everything. Maybe Nath could remind her a little more often. He looked up at her when she made the comment about having never done this before, asking her what she hasn't done. "Back to school night. I hated school so I never did it. I just...post poned it until the last minute possible." She admitted, leaning back on her seat. They talked about a lot of stuff when texting, but whenever her childhood was brought up, she found some way to change the subject. "Yeah that sounds great!" Baskin Robbins? She hasn't done that either.
Hudson smirked as Nathaniel nervously wiped at his face, managing to squeek out a soft "Sup Hudson." What a dork. Hudson was glad that Nath was scared of him already, it made everything a whole lot easier. Hudson was very protective of Sayor, having grown so attached to her over the years. She was his little bit of sanity in their crazy world. Boys would come and go, but Hudson wasn't going to leave her side. Sure she would find a "best friend" but no one would be better than him. Hudson had taken it upon himself to fill the roll that Mr. Dunkley was supposed to have taken, but because he was a pig he didnt. Hudson was the big man on campus, the one that threatened all the guys that came to their door for her. The one that protected her and made sure she wasn't Hurt. Harry here seemed like a good kid, but, just on case, Hudson wasn't taking any chances. "Good-" He was about to go on, but Sayor walked downstairs, her smile brighter than it had been in a while. Gross. Love.
Sayor had been teased by Hudson all week about Nath, and the entire time she just insisted that they were only friends, but as she walked down those stairs, she couldn't help but feel like she was on her way to prom with her boyfriend or something. The way he looked at her made her feel like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and it made her heart soar. Sayor felt pretty and that was something that had never happened before. She spent a lot of her time growing up bald. She never had a boyfriend, never really had crushes either. When you are minutes from death, you don't have time to worry about that stuff. You just focus on living. And her journey to recovery wasn't very beautiful either. At one point she had little fuzzy sticks at the end of her head for hair. She looked terrible, and it was hard. It was a hard battle that she constantly fought. However, the look that Nathaniel gave her made her forget all of that. To him, she could tell she was beautiful. And that was all that mattered.
Sayor couldn't help but agree with his statement on how they haven't seen each other in forever. They hadnt. "I know! But we talk a lot so that's good." She pointed out, winking slyly at him. Sayor was an interesting character. She was flirty, spunky, cheerful, her pessimistic, and could be a grump. But, Nath seemed to like her. He texted her every day without fail, even when she was in the crappiest mood. He some how seemed to cheer her up with just a hello, his happy disposition and innocence so refreshing. He was just so positive and nice. He really was quite the opposite of her, but they were a good match. They got alone well, and she wouldnt trade that for the world. Say looked around the car, noticing how clean his car was. Was this for real? It was the cleanest car she had ever seen. "Woah..your car is really great." She pointed out, not even thinking about the fact that she should get buckled. it just didnt cross her mind.
Until Nath said anything that is. She blushed, nodding. Seat belts were important. How could she forget those? "Sorry, slipped my mind." Sayor forgot often, and got in trouble for it. A lot. She forgot what time to be home, when her parents wanted her to appear for her nightly scolding, what time to be at work, what days she worked. She forgot everything. Maybe Nath could remind her a little more often. He looked up at her when she made the comment about having never done this before, asking her what she hasn't done. "Back to school night. I hated school so I never did it. I just...post poned it until the last minute possible." She admitted, leaning back on her seat. They talked about a lot of stuff when texting, but whenever her childhood was brought up, she found some way to change the subject. "Yeah that sounds great!" Baskin Robbins? She hasn't done that either.
Sayor was just as talkative as he remembered her, but more upbeat than the last time. It probably had to do with the fact that her parent weren't around, which he had learned to avoid on every basis. He wasn't sure how they'd react when they found out that he and Sayor talked often, spent late nights texting or Snapchatting. They already freaked Nath out, with the way they always stared at him when he passed by the house on his runs. Sayor was the only one who had any chill in that family, it was ridiculous. For the past week or so, Nathaniel would wake up every morning with thoughts of Sayor on his mind, scrambling for his phone at six in the morning to check what texts he got from her. Sometimes he even fell asleep with his phone in his hand, in which his mother chided him for being on his electronics too often. He mentioned Sayor often to his parents at dinner, telling them about the funny conversations they had that day, up until the point his parents would begin to question him. Nath didn't talk about his own current best friends this much, and it was over whelming for the parents to see their son grow up. He always insisted they were just friends, but it didn't take more than ten minutes of being over at his friends house for that said friend to figure out that something was different with Nathan. He used to never even so much as glance at his phone, being one of those guys who were slow to text back, but now, he was inseparable from his cell phone. He grinned at his messages stupidly, took actual presentable selfies, and took more pride in what he wore. Even going on his jogs in the mornings, he at least wore a beanie to hide the mess his hair was from Sayor. He'd jog routinely past her house, wave up to her window as always, and continue on his way. She could always count on him to be there, as he made certain to set his alarms and make it there regardless of the weather. It was their little secret, their Iittle thing, and it brought Nathan this giddy happiness now. Anyone could see that he was a bit... love struck.
"My car? Oh, uh.. thanks," Nathaniel managed in confusion, laughing awkwardly. His car was great? Was she being sarcastic, or did she really think so? Maybe the cleaning had helped! It wasn't anything special, just your average compact fuel efficient car, but now he couldnt wipe the smile off his face at her compliment. What was wrong with him? "It's not much... I still haven't named her," Nathan grinned as they cruised easily along the quiet neighborhood. They'd had a conversation about naming cars lately, and he had promised to find a name for his own. It was nice , being able to have their own little inside jokes that made no sense to anyone else listening in to some of them. It made Nath happy, and it also distracted him from the road. A few times, he steered into other lanes, but luckily there had been hardly any traffic. He just looked like a really bad driver, and it didn't help that Sayor was distracting him with her pretty girl perfume and her sunglasses. It drove him crazy. Literally.
"You won't hate school here, or at least... I hope," Nathaniel said earnestly, slowing to a stop at a red light on the beautiful Wednesday afternoon. "There's lots to do here, and I can show you around... my friends will love you," he beamed proudly, stepping on the gas again and turning his attention back to the road. He simply thought that Sayor wasn't a big fan of school because it was boring, he understood that pretty well. It was jsut the same old, same old. Go to class, sit for hours and write notes, take tests, get yelled at for chewing gum or eating in class. Then you had practices after school, and by the time you got home, you hated people but then your mom made you spend time with the family. It was this repeating cycle, without any interesting elements in it, but now that he had Sayor, Nathaniel was actually... a bit excited for the new year. Baskin Robbins wasn't too far from his house, just down the street from the high school in a shopping center.
Sayor hated anything that had to do with her parents, her family. She avoided her childhood, anything mom or dad related, and just family in general. She didn’t talk about it. She didn’t talk about why Hudson came to live with them, why she didn’t report her family, why her life was the way it was. She avoided it all, and thankfully, Nathaniel learned that really quick. They had been texting on night playing truth or dare, and she had chosen truth. His question however, was not one that went over very well. He asked her her worst childhood memory, and she responded two sentences. All of it. End of story. And that was the end of that. The topic was officially off the conversation list, and out of her mind. It was for the best. Sayor had grown very attached to her phone, or really, the boy she talked to through her phone. He was so nice and kind. He actually cared about her, and while it was weird, it was well welcomed.
Sayor realized with her sarcastic nature, Nath didn’t really understand that she actually meant it, and wasn’t being sarcastic. The pause in his gratitude for her compliment showed her that. “No I really mean it.” She said gently, sincerity written all over her face. Sayor could give nice compliments if she wanted to. They didn’t happen often, but when they did they were very well thought out and she meant it. And that was what was important. He was grinning, and she couldn't help but smile too. A gasp escaped her pale pink lips at his words, the surprise etched all across her face. “Still? We talked about this ages ago!” Sayor was full of dismay, surprised that he hadn’t named his car yet! When she got a car, she was naming it within the first five minutes. “I’ll help you.” She offered, sitting up straighter in her seat and looking around the car. “I think she looks like a Felicia. Or maybe Angelica.” She offered, grinning. Inside jokes were her favorite thing, especially with Nath.
It was a beautiful day outside, and Sayor wished it would be like this forever. The sun was shining, there was a small breeze, it was warm, it was perfect. She rolled down her window, her hair blowing away from her face, and she looked like a little dog, her head leaning slightly out the window. Sayor loved the wind. When she was little she had this fan that she would position right below her bed, and then make it so if she leaned over it would blow in her face. The fan broke...or else she would still be doing that today. There was just something about wind that made her giddy. It was comforting in a way. Sayor looked over at him, a small smile on her face. “Yeah? I think I’ll like it here, as long as I got you.” She wasn’t meaning to flirt, but she was. She was really being honest. With Nathaniel by her side, school couldn't be that terrible. He kept talking, saying how there was cool places and his friends would love her. She hoped so! You had to get approval from the best friend. It was a law. “I hope so!”
They pulled into the mall parking lot, Sayor climbing out of the car with glee. She couldn’t wait to get some ice cream. “Come on slow poke.” She said teasingly, walking towards the mall entrance. She hadn’t had a chance to come here, not having really any friends to go with, or any time. Her parents had made her go to a bunch of job interviews, saying that she had to start help paying for her hospital bills. Sayor had gotten herself a job at the Cheesecake Factory, working as a waitress. It sucked. She really hated it. She didn’t get paid very much at all, and the working conditions were terrible. The uniforms were ugly, it was always really hot, and there were so many people and not enough servers. She always had to work double shift. It sucked. And, on top of all that, the uniforms irritated her skin. The fabric was not very good for her sensitive, baby like skin. She hated it. A lot.
They walked past a bath and body works, a photo booth, a Chick-Fil-a. and then finally approached the Baskin Robbins little store window, tucked neatly inside the edge of the food court. Sayor grinned at Nathaniel as they approached the small line, standing next to him as they waited. “What are you getting?” She asked, looking at the options. She didn’t know what she wanted. The sundays looked good..maybe they could just get a large and share it to save money. It was cheap, and romantic. But, the vanilla ice cream cone looked good, and the rocky road..Say was just an ice cream addict. She could never make up her mind. She loved them all. If she could get a cone with one scoop of everything it would be great, but that was a lot of scoops, and a lot of money that wasn’t worth spending. It all depended on what Nath wanted...if he wanted a Sunday she was jumping on that boat, if not, then she would find a cone that would satisfy her. She wasn't that picky, if she wanted to be, she could be very open to new things. Today was one of those days.
Sayor realized with her sarcastic nature, Nath didn’t really understand that she actually meant it, and wasn’t being sarcastic. The pause in his gratitude for her compliment showed her that. “No I really mean it.” She said gently, sincerity written all over her face. Sayor could give nice compliments if she wanted to. They didn’t happen often, but when they did they were very well thought out and she meant it. And that was what was important. He was grinning, and she couldn't help but smile too. A gasp escaped her pale pink lips at his words, the surprise etched all across her face. “Still? We talked about this ages ago!” Sayor was full of dismay, surprised that he hadn’t named his car yet! When she got a car, she was naming it within the first five minutes. “I’ll help you.” She offered, sitting up straighter in her seat and looking around the car. “I think she looks like a Felicia. Or maybe Angelica.” She offered, grinning. Inside jokes were her favorite thing, especially with Nath.
It was a beautiful day outside, and Sayor wished it would be like this forever. The sun was shining, there was a small breeze, it was warm, it was perfect. She rolled down her window, her hair blowing away from her face, and she looked like a little dog, her head leaning slightly out the window. Sayor loved the wind. When she was little she had this fan that she would position right below her bed, and then make it so if she leaned over it would blow in her face. The fan broke...or else she would still be doing that today. There was just something about wind that made her giddy. It was comforting in a way. Sayor looked over at him, a small smile on her face. “Yeah? I think I’ll like it here, as long as I got you.” She wasn’t meaning to flirt, but she was. She was really being honest. With Nathaniel by her side, school couldn't be that terrible. He kept talking, saying how there was cool places and his friends would love her. She hoped so! You had to get approval from the best friend. It was a law. “I hope so!”
They pulled into the mall parking lot, Sayor climbing out of the car with glee. She couldn’t wait to get some ice cream. “Come on slow poke.” She said teasingly, walking towards the mall entrance. She hadn’t had a chance to come here, not having really any friends to go with, or any time. Her parents had made her go to a bunch of job interviews, saying that she had to start help paying for her hospital bills. Sayor had gotten herself a job at the Cheesecake Factory, working as a waitress. It sucked. She really hated it. She didn’t get paid very much at all, and the working conditions were terrible. The uniforms were ugly, it was always really hot, and there were so many people and not enough servers. She always had to work double shift. It sucked. And, on top of all that, the uniforms irritated her skin. The fabric was not very good for her sensitive, baby like skin. She hated it. A lot.
They walked past a bath and body works, a photo booth, a Chick-Fil-a. and then finally approached the Baskin Robbins little store window, tucked neatly inside the edge of the food court. Sayor grinned at Nathaniel as they approached the small line, standing next to him as they waited. “What are you getting?” She asked, looking at the options. She didn’t know what she wanted. The sundays looked good..maybe they could just get a large and share it to save money. It was cheap, and romantic. But, the vanilla ice cream cone looked good, and the rocky road..Say was just an ice cream addict. She could never make up her mind. She loved them all. If she could get a cone with one scoop of everything it would be great, but that was a lot of scoops, and a lot of money that wasn’t worth spending. It all depended on what Nath wanted...if he wanted a Sunday she was jumping on that boat, if not, then she would find a cone that would satisfy her. She wasn't that picky, if she wanted to be, she could be very open to new things. Today was one of those days.
It was definitely a weird experience for Nathan to be walking through a mall with someone other than his mother or his boy buddies. With With girl? He never would have imagined. Whenever he saw couples at the mall, it made him a bit curious, and slightly envious as to what that would be like, to have a girlfriend to take shopping or just to walk around the stores, spend a bunch of cash on pounds of candy at the Sweet Shoppe. Nathaniel walked briskly as was his natural pace, with long skinny legs that took him wherever he needed to go. Sayor kept up pretty well with him, even if she was pretty short. The two of them together, semi dressed up, might have seemed like the perfect tall - short couple there, amidst all the other day time shoppers and lounging teenagers waiting for their back to school night with groups of friends. Upon entering the doors of the indoor mall, Nathaniel had already caught glimpses of people from school, his grade. The populars, some of them anyway, and a triad of nerds that talked often about politics in his English class last year. He saw yhe school druggie smoking a cigarette outside the mall doors off to the side by the planter, Gage was his name? Even the worst of the people from school, and Nath already felt fond of them, like he missed them over the summer. It was sort if fun going back to school, especially for someone who didn't really have a problem with his studies. It took a few minutes across the mall to get into Baskin Robbins, which already had a like of three in front of them. Inside, the sweet savory taste of ice cream made him drool. How long had it been since he had picked up an ice cream cone?? As a runmer, he had to be careful what he ate. Today was an exception, he had agreed. What better way to take his friend out than to go get everyone's favorite dessert? Plus, it was cheap! Nathaniels brown eyes flickered over the selections of ice cream from where he stood in line behind Sayor, his hands in his pockets. He had his eyebrows furrowed, as if choosing a flavor really was the most exceptionally difficult thing anyone could do, as if his life depended on it. There were too many flavors to decide, with toppings as well. He wasn't sure what to pick, what not to pick. What was Sayor even getting? Would he pay for them both? Yes, he would. It was only right, and he didn't spend money very often anyway, being a guy and all. He was sure Sayor could use the extra five dollars to get... nail polish or soemthing. Girly stuff.
He looked up at the sound of Sayors voice, still unaccustomed to it after not having heard her for over a week. "Me? Oh... I have no idea, Say... there's too many choices," Nathan laughed, rubbing the back of his head as he looked back over the selection. They were almost next in line! The pressure was intense. "What about you? Get anything you want... it's on me," he winked, grinning toothily at his new friend. What a better way to welcome her, right? He then made a split decision to get a waffle cone, with a rocky road scoop and a fudge brownie scoop. Double chocolate, oh yes. Nath lived for chocolate icecream flavors. "Ready to order?" He asked Sayor kindly, stepping forward to brandish his wallet. "I'll have the normal waffle cone, a scoop of brownie, and a scoop of rocky road?" The lady at the counter obliged, scooping his order quickly and efficiently with two evenly sized lumps on his cone.
Sayor then ordered, and Nathaniel forked over his credit card with ease. He hardly carried too much cash around, as he always feared for it being stolen. Besides, why deal with all yhe spare change when you could have it all on a card? His parents were never worried that he would overcharge the card, since he was responsible enough to be entrusted with a share of the family account. He usually only bought gas for his car, sometimes groceries or lunch, and otherwise warned his mom when he needed to get some clothes for the new year or soemthing. With their icecream and ample napkins, Nathaniel led Sayor to a corner high table, pulling out her seat first before perching himself on the matching high seats. He didn't understand why the tables had to be so high up, but he felt a little more datesy. It was like in the movies, and it was sort of cool...?
Nathaniel began to lick at the melted parts of his icecream, setting down his receipt and his wallet with all the napkins. Sayor didn't know this yet but.. he was a messy eater. Messy. When it came to Icecream cones, and anything that was finger food. Hee just could never seem to keep it all in his mouth, it just spilled all the time or got on his cheeks. Already, only five seconds in, and there was a chocolate smudge from his rocky road on the side of his cheek. Oblivious, Nathan made hismelf comfortable, tucking his wallet back into his pocket and eating his icecream contentedly. "So, anything you had in mind of doing after orientation? Hudson said you had to be back by... 9:30, I think it was...," Nathan began softly, growing shy in this sort of situation when they were talking face to face. At heart, Nathaniel was a crazy clown, and it showed through his texts with Sayor. Se was going to have to take some time, however, if she wanted to see it from him in person. He'd always been a quiet kid, so it was odd being outgoing and spontaneous. Behind a screen? It was all so easy.
Sayor rolled back and forth on her feet as she looked at the options. She had no idea what she wanted. She was told by her doctors that she needed to stay on this special diet, and not to splurge on all this crap. She didn’t really care to be honest. Would being on a diet help her stay in remission? Heavens no. If it came back it came back. It didn’t matter if she dieted or not. So she was going to take the ice cream. Plus, it was only one time, it couldn’t hurt. He stood closely behind her, his presence making her heart pound in her chest. Sayor sucked in a deep breath, fiddling with her fingers as she tried to decide what she wanted. Vanilla? Strawberry? Chocolate? Fudge? Huckleberry? She was definitely in the mood for some chocolate..but what kind?
Say waited patiently for Nath to answer her question, her eyes meeting his with a little humor and mischief mixed into her gaze. She always had that look in her eyes, whether she was up to something or not. She bit her lip, her nose wrinkling as she glanced back at the menu. She had approximately five minutes before she was supposed to order. How on earth? She pulled off her hat for a second, running her fingers through her hair before sticking it back on. “I have no idea too. There’s so many options and choices. I don’t know..haven’t had Baskin Robbins in forever.” His next comment made her grin, the thrill entering her heart ridiculous, but it was still there. “Oh really?” She said with a smirk, raising her eyebrow cutely. He was so cute. “What a gentleman!”
Then it was time to order and she hadn’t had a chance to even decide! Nath ordered within a second, and Sayor sighed, biting her lip. “Um I will have one scoop of cookies in cream, and one scoop of cookie dough in a bowl with a crushed cone." That was not even close to anything that she had considered, but it was what came out of her mouth, so she was gonna go for it. It wasn't a combination she had ever even had before, just something she had made up on the spot apparently. Nath paid for the ice cream while Sayor held his cone and her bowl and spoon, her mouth watering with excitement as she prepared herself to eat the yummy combination she had dreamed up. Sayor had never really been treated this nice by someone other than Hudson. Nath was so sweet and kind. Sayor found herself falling harder and harder for him with each passing moment.
He came back over, taking his cone from her waiting hands, and then leading her to the other side of the food court over at an extremely high table. Well..high for her. She had never seen a table that high. Golly gee. Sayor was just about to pull out her own chair, but Nathaniel beat her to it, pulling it against the tile with ease, waiting until she was happily seated before moving onto his own chair. How cute was that? It made her heart swell, a lot. "thank you sir." she commented with a smirk, leaning back on her chair her hat and sunglasses sitting next to her. Her shoulder length blonde hair, the hair she was so glad to have after being bald twice was falling across her shoulders in a fairy princess sort of way. Say was pretty when she actually tried..she wasn't afraid to admit it either.
Sayor took her first bite, a smile gracing her lips. "This is so good." So worth breaking the diet. Man. How could she have lived before without Baskin Robbins? Immediately she knew that this won't be a one time thing. She looked up at Nath, giggling at his chocolate covered mouth. She couldn't keep her smile at bay, reaching forward with the napkin and wiping it off of his mouth. "You have a little face on all that chocolate." She teased, implying that he had so much chocolate on his face that it looked like that was all he had. Sayor was the same person, behind the screen and off. It was rare that she was shy or quiet. Sayor was the same all the time it didn't matter who was talking to her. Nathan asked her what she wanted to do after the back to school night, and all she could do was shrug. She didn't know what she wanted to do. She was just happy hanging with Nath. "whatever is fine with me. You could give Me a tour of the city, we could go on a walk, go see a movie...whatever."
Say waited patiently for Nath to answer her question, her eyes meeting his with a little humor and mischief mixed into her gaze. She always had that look in her eyes, whether she was up to something or not. She bit her lip, her nose wrinkling as she glanced back at the menu. She had approximately five minutes before she was supposed to order. How on earth? She pulled off her hat for a second, running her fingers through her hair before sticking it back on. “I have no idea too. There’s so many options and choices. I don’t know..haven’t had Baskin Robbins in forever.” His next comment made her grin, the thrill entering her heart ridiculous, but it was still there. “Oh really?” She said with a smirk, raising her eyebrow cutely. He was so cute. “What a gentleman!”
Then it was time to order and she hadn’t had a chance to even decide! Nath ordered within a second, and Sayor sighed, biting her lip. “Um I will have one scoop of cookies in cream, and one scoop of cookie dough in a bowl with a crushed cone." That was not even close to anything that she had considered, but it was what came out of her mouth, so she was gonna go for it. It wasn't a combination she had ever even had before, just something she had made up on the spot apparently. Nath paid for the ice cream while Sayor held his cone and her bowl and spoon, her mouth watering with excitement as she prepared herself to eat the yummy combination she had dreamed up. Sayor had never really been treated this nice by someone other than Hudson. Nath was so sweet and kind. Sayor found herself falling harder and harder for him with each passing moment.
He came back over, taking his cone from her waiting hands, and then leading her to the other side of the food court over at an extremely high table. Well..high for her. She had never seen a table that high. Golly gee. Sayor was just about to pull out her own chair, but Nathaniel beat her to it, pulling it against the tile with ease, waiting until she was happily seated before moving onto his own chair. How cute was that? It made her heart swell, a lot. "thank you sir." she commented with a smirk, leaning back on her chair her hat and sunglasses sitting next to her. Her shoulder length blonde hair, the hair she was so glad to have after being bald twice was falling across her shoulders in a fairy princess sort of way. Say was pretty when she actually tried..she wasn't afraid to admit it either.
Sayor took her first bite, a smile gracing her lips. "This is so good." So worth breaking the diet. Man. How could she have lived before without Baskin Robbins? Immediately she knew that this won't be a one time thing. She looked up at Nath, giggling at his chocolate covered mouth. She couldn't keep her smile at bay, reaching forward with the napkin and wiping it off of his mouth. "You have a little face on all that chocolate." She teased, implying that he had so much chocolate on his face that it looked like that was all he had. Sayor was the same person, behind the screen and off. It was rare that she was shy or quiet. Sayor was the same all the time it didn't matter who was talking to her. Nathan asked her what she wanted to do after the back to school night, and all she could do was shrug. She didn't know what she wanted to do. She was just happy hanging with Nath. "whatever is fine with me. You could give Me a tour of the city, we could go on a walk, go see a movie...whatever."
Nathaniel grinned in response to Sayors contentment with her icecream, the two of them happily slurping up the quickly melting treat at their little table in the corner of the food court. It gave Nath a full view of the other customers at the mall, his brown eyes lazily flickering over a pair of fussing twins and a stressed out mother. "I haven't had ice cream for a while, it is good," he agreed, his hand already sticky with chocolate that had melted. He was bad at this, and Desirae always made fun of him on their little outings whenever they'd come here during the summer. Nathaniel was extremely self consious of how he ate his icecream, hesitating before deciding to just go for it. He sunk his lips into his scoops, avoiding a brain freeze that would have occurred if he settled for biting into the sugary goodness. He already even had some on his nose, but of course, Nath was oblivious. "I what?" Nathan raised his eyebrows in confusion, as Sayors voice snapped hum out of his extreme focus. Her hand clutched a napkin, dabbing away at his face. He wrinkled his nose and closed his eyes as she removed traces of chocolate around his lips, his cheekss, and his nose. Embarassed, his face turned a shade of scarlet. He sighed heavily when she finished, resuming eating his icecream and savoring the crunch of an almond and the squish of a marshmallow. On a warm afternoon, this was perfect. It had begun to settle that it was their first official date, and now that it was here, Nathaniel wasn't as nervous as he had been last night. It was just eating ice cream and talking like they had done during dinner a few weeks ago. He still stole glances at Sayor as the two of them hungrily devoured their icecream, trying to adjust to a actually seeing her again in person. The longest they had hung out since dinner was at her mailbox last Friday afternoon, for five minutes before her cousin warned her about her parents coming.
She still had the same short blonde hair, with bright blue eyes that twinkled with mischeif. With her, he was never bored, could always expect something could happen. Her smile always lit up his own, and she walked with confidence in her step. Nathaniels heart skipped skipped beat as he begun to realize how much he was thinking about Sayor lately, his eyes averted to the table where there was a melted puddle of icecream that had fallen from Say's spoon just then. He'd never had a girlfriend, he wasn't even sure he wanted one. He wasn't ready. Nathaniel was fine when it came to being friends with a female, but when you thought that female was attractive? That's when it posed problems. As an incoming junior, most of his friends were in a relationship or had been in at least one, if not several. Sure, girls loved him.
They thought he was smart with his perfect GPA, funny, spontaneous at times, and sweet. He was innocent, never swore, and had the cutest little sister ever. It was the perfect guy, and it was difficult to not like Nathan with his amiable personality. It didn't matter who you were, he treated everyone equally, and didn't care for popularity. People respected him for his standards and athletic talent in both cross country and track, and he remembered most everyone he met. But of course... Nath was oblivious to all the attention. What he wanted to know was what Sayor thought. What did she think? Was he attractive? Did ahe notice that he put on cologne, did she like it? What did she look for in guys? Had she had boyfriends before? How long would they stay friends, would someone else he introduces her to take her away from him? That in itself was Naths worst nightmare, and he'd rather not think about it. Not when he just earned a new best friend.
They had lots of spare time to go before and after the orientation before Sayor needed to be home at ten thirty, but Nath was almost entirely blank. He didn't know what to do! He didn't know what girls liked to do, let alone Sayor. He didn't want to be boring, he wanted to make a good impression on her, make her want to hang out with him again in the future! What if she thought he was lame? Nathaniel, who normally never really cared about what other people thought of him, was paranoid now. "We could do it all," Nathaniel mused, entirely serious. He could maybe show her his favorite spots, who knew. There was an abandoned building that was super creepy too, he definitely wanted to show her that too, if she was bold enough to go. It would be a fun little adventure, and when she got scared, he could hold her hand. It was perfect. The formula turned in his head, Nathaniel eating the rest of his ice cream cone as they discussed recent movies and what movies they would watch.
An hour later, they were at the high school. The place was relatively new at four years old, the modern style building built mostly all indoor. Students already crowded the campus, dressed casually. Most girls had haired curled, some unrecognizable with new tans and haircuts and new makeup style. Nathaniel managed to find a parking spot in the busy lot in his usual spot, grinning over at Sayor as he cut the engine. "Welcome to Fivay, Sayor," he unlocked the doors, fixing his hair before popping the door open for himself. He grabbed the school papers off his dashboard, shutting the door behind him and absorbing the familiar sights. He hadn't been here for anything other than cross country stuff lately, and it wss entirely refreshing. He couldn't wait to see all his friends again! Nathaniel joined Sayors side, the parkinglot soon becoming crowded with an incoming flow of this year's juniors. It was dread mixed with excitement as he led Sayor towards the school, passing by groups of reunited friends.
(view spoiler)
Their cute little unofficial date was actually a lot of fun so far. Sayor was enjoying the ice cream, and the flirting that went on was pretty great. Sayor kept his face clean and he kept blushing, which she found funny. And she caught him staring more than once. At first it made her feel really insecure, and she didn’t know what was wrong with her, but then she realized he was staring just to stare. She couldn't possibly have anything on her face because she had a spoon. Suddenly her compulsive brain was really smart. Thinking ahead so there was no possibility that she would get ice cream on her overalls. These were expensive. She had to buy it with the only money she had left over from her monthly hospital pay. Sayor was forced to pay for the hospital bills that the insurance company wouldn’t cover and it was terrible. She wished she didn’t have to deal with it, but she did. Her parents just hated her. A lot.
They finished their ice cream, Sayor giggling the entire time. Nathan had started warming up to her once more when she accidentally snorted. Then it was like it hit him that she didn’t care if he goofed up or was super silly. He could just be him and she would be really happy. Nath was adorable when he acted silly and when he let the walls come down. That was probably what she loved most about him. He was silly, made her chuckle, and seriously she couldn’t get enough of him. His cologne smelled so good, and she just tried really hard not to sit and smell it. Awkward.
After they finished their ice cream, it was time to head down to the school for Sayor’s first back to school night. What was she supposed to do with herself? What did one do at a back to school night. Just...sit there? Talk to people? She had no idea and as they got closer and closer to the school she got a little anxious. What did she do with herself? Just stand there while Nath got all excited and cute and in love with however he wanted? No way. Nuh uh. One problem with Sayor was that she got a little..possessive sometimes. She didn’t like to share. Nath was her best friend, and she didn’t want to have to share him with anyone else. That was like..against the best friend rules. Sure she would make all other friends, but her cute, quirky, dorky Nath would forever be her best friend. No way out, no exceptions. Being her friend was a life time job only excusable by death.
They pulled into the school parking lot and her mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe this! This place was huge! Ridiculous! She honestly couldn’t even believe it. This High school could eat her other high school alive. She legit couldn’t even believe she would be privileged enough to go here. Before Nath got out of the car, she grabbed his arm, making him stay seated. “Wait. Nath. What on earth do I say? I have never been to one of these. Do...do i talk to people?” She asked, being legit. She really had no clue what she was doing. This was scary for her, she was totally out of her element. Doctors she could handle, scary parents she could handle, but teenagers? No way.
Nath tugged her inside despite some protesting on her end, and immediately they were swarmed by some other people. A couple teenage guys, and a few girls. Sayor sat closely behind Nath, her hands in her pockets as she tried to act cool. Okay. Okay there were people here and she had to act nicely. There was this red head with these bright blue eyes, and she had this little flirtatious smile on her face and it made Sayor feel very uncomfortable. “Nathy!” She squealed, wrapping her arms around Nathaniel possesively. Sayor shrinked back slightly, wishigng more than anything that her brother was there. He would pound this girl for her. “Im so glad youre here!!”
They finished their ice cream, Sayor giggling the entire time. Nathan had started warming up to her once more when she accidentally snorted. Then it was like it hit him that she didn’t care if he goofed up or was super silly. He could just be him and she would be really happy. Nath was adorable when he acted silly and when he let the walls come down. That was probably what she loved most about him. He was silly, made her chuckle, and seriously she couldn’t get enough of him. His cologne smelled so good, and she just tried really hard not to sit and smell it. Awkward.
After they finished their ice cream, it was time to head down to the school for Sayor’s first back to school night. What was she supposed to do with herself? What did one do at a back to school night. Just...sit there? Talk to people? She had no idea and as they got closer and closer to the school she got a little anxious. What did she do with herself? Just stand there while Nath got all excited and cute and in love with however he wanted? No way. Nuh uh. One problem with Sayor was that she got a little..possessive sometimes. She didn’t like to share. Nath was her best friend, and she didn’t want to have to share him with anyone else. That was like..against the best friend rules. Sure she would make all other friends, but her cute, quirky, dorky Nath would forever be her best friend. No way out, no exceptions. Being her friend was a life time job only excusable by death.
They pulled into the school parking lot and her mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe this! This place was huge! Ridiculous! She honestly couldn’t even believe it. This High school could eat her other high school alive. She legit couldn’t even believe she would be privileged enough to go here. Before Nath got out of the car, she grabbed his arm, making him stay seated. “Wait. Nath. What on earth do I say? I have never been to one of these. Do...do i talk to people?” She asked, being legit. She really had no clue what she was doing. This was scary for her, she was totally out of her element. Doctors she could handle, scary parents she could handle, but teenagers? No way.
Nath tugged her inside despite some protesting on her end, and immediately they were swarmed by some other people. A couple teenage guys, and a few girls. Sayor sat closely behind Nath, her hands in her pockets as she tried to act cool. Okay. Okay there were people here and she had to act nicely. There was this red head with these bright blue eyes, and she had this little flirtatious smile on her face and it made Sayor feel very uncomfortable. “Nathy!” She squealed, wrapping her arms around Nathaniel possesively. Sayor shrinked back slightly, wishigng more than anything that her brother was there. He would pound this girl for her. “Im so glad youre here!!”
Nath was pleased when he saw how in awe Sayor was over the school, feeling a little more confident that she would like it here. The place was huge, and had lots to offer. Tons of different electives and clubs, plus sports if she wanted to. He'd mentioned cross country to her a few times, but he hadn't invited her to his meet yet. It would probably be boring for her anyway, but he figured it would be sort of cool to have his new best friend there. He was determined this year to get involved with all the spirit days, attend the football games and take on the juniors and seniors responsibility to lead the student section, and go to all the dances. Of course meet new people and make new friends, maybe find another club or something. He had cross country in the fall, soccer in the winter, then track in the spring, so it wasn't like he really had much time for another sport club anyway... He wanted to drag Sayor into his new resolutions for this year, and really give her the best high school experience she could ever have. If Sayor hated school and didn't have very pleasant experiences during her past few years with her cancer, he was determined to make it at least memorable, something she could smile back on years ahead. "Stay with me, if you get lost, call me okay?" Nathaniel had advised her kindly, his friend trailing behind him in the parking lot towards the school as the sun blazed on above the Colorado school. He already saw tons of acquaintances, like that kid who always fell asleep in math class and that druggie that swore all the time and wore dark clothes. Then there were the jocks, then the cheerleaders at their sides of course in their uniforms. Apparently football just had practice, and the cheer girls were swooning over them. He'd agreed to meet his running buddies near the cafeteria where they were administering new locks and school wear, plus some schedule books nobody ever used. He had a pretty large group of friends, some closer to him than others, mostly tied through sports. When you ran marathons and rode in buses and cheered on your upper classmen with the same people for two years already, you shared this special kind of bond that was hard to break. They knew everything about each other, the most embarassing moments especially. In fact, most of the time, they had actually been there to witness them.
Sayor grabbed his arm when they reached the curb in front of the school, stopping Nathan in his tracks. He turned to say, whose eyes were wide eith worry. Those eyes... He'd never get tired of them. He could never... "What is it?" Nath asked with a worried tone, his forehead wrinkled as he whispered. Her concerns were absurd and in fact a little entertaining, and Nathaniel couldn't help but crack up laughing. Sayor couldn't possibly be getting nervous now! She had been so open and easy with him, and now she was being completely serious about knowing what to say. "I don't really have a script ready for you, I forgot that at home... but Say. Say, be yourself, be you," he insisted, punching her arm gently. "Of course you talk to people! Look, don't worry, I can introduce you to my friends, I have girl friends too, you guys could all be pals or something. You'll be fine, I promise... and you've got me, I'll be right with you," Nath said earnestly, giving Sayors shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
He was a little too eager yet dreading to show Sayor off to his friends, entirely pleased with himself for scoring a cute and funny neighbor this summer. Nath had told his closest friends in a group text all about her, and they'd been all too curious to hear about her. They teased him incessantly, always sent him messages at four am saying "how's babe? ;)" or something related to it. It made Nathaniel blush whenever he read those messages, but in a way, he was sort of proud. He felt so lucky, so blessed. It didn't even matter if Sayor was a natural beauty queen, her personality shone through her heart and that's what mattered. She brought out the best in him, more quickly than anyone ever had. Being pretty and stylish was just a bonus. "Now, come on, I'll show you around on the way," Nath proposed, grinning widely until his face felt like it would explode. As a new face in town, Sayor sure got plenty of weird looks, especially seeing her with their dear old Nath. Who on earth was the new girl?
In the front grand hallway of the school, quite a few juniors and some with their parents were gathered with folded arms, waiting until the office opened to start allowing for late registrations, ID pictures, and the whole class schedule and locker scheme. The cafeteria was a bit of ways from here, Nathan leading the way through the school past the main offices. He nodded hi's along the way, half-hugged a few girls he- didn't-remember-but-they-knew-his- name awkwardly, high five some soccer friends, before a familiar redhead came running down the hall from her clique of populars. Paisley! He hadn't seen her for a few weeks,although they had texted just yesterday regarding back to school night and Snapchatted even this morning. She seemed a little shorter since that party they went to for a friend only two weeks ago, a few days before he met Sayor. Little Paisley was like his second sister, someone he sometimes hung out with during school and often saw.
Their parents were best of friends, and their fathers worked for the same company. She had lived with him in Michigan since preschool, then, when their fathers transferred jobs, they both moved here together, new everything and anything about each other. Nath wasn't attracted to Paisely, thinking her merely as his little sister. Nathan caught her as she jumped to hug him, his arms tightly squeezing her in delight. "Hey, Paise! How are you? I haven't seen you for a while," Nathaniel gushed, smiling. They've been on family vacations together, gone across the world, and she always supported him for everything. Sometimes they fought, but like siblings, they made up. He was completely oblivious to the pride and possessiveness and love she had for him, her childhood best friend. "Oh my gosh I know! Since that party, wasn't it? How's little Des? Ahh! Can you believe that were juniors , Nath?" She drawled as he put her back on the ground. Nath laughed easily, tugging Sayors arm closer to them and also to get her out of the middle of the hallway. "This year's gonna be so wild... Paise, this is my new neighbor I told you about, Sayor Duncan! She's pretty cool, I think you two could be friends!" He beamed, hands on his hips.
Sayor was really nervous about starting a new school, about everything she was about to embark. At her old school she had been the nurses assistant, but that was only so they could keep an eye on her. Lots of times the nurse would claim she was bored and ask Sayor if she could do a check up, just to see if she was experiencing any symptoms. It was stupid and Sayor hated it. What other clubs could she do? She had done dance in between each hospital visit..it had been a while since she danced though. She probably wouldn’t do that. Nath kept dropping hints about her doing cross country and track with him, but running was not her strong suit. She had never been running in her life. Running was like cancer to her. She was so not good at that. No way. Plus he was obviously a superstar with the way he ran every morning in front of her house. Sayor was just sayor. Not a good runner. She just….did the best she could do to stay healthy, and right now, that meant keeping her eyes out for symptoms and taking a bunch of medicines.
Sayor was a little anxious to meet his friends, worried they wouldn’t like her. She was generally a likeable person, if she remembered to keep her mouth shut. The thing about Say was that she didn’t like to keep her mouth shut. She generally said whatever she wanted about whoever she wanted and didn’t have to worry about the repercussions because whenever she did that it was to the nurses at the hospitals, and she just got a new nurse and a reputation for being picky. That was it! Here, in High School it would get her the reputation as a brat. Sayor didn’t want that. At all. She wanted to be liked, to fit in, to fit the mold of Nathaniels friends. Except..that was hard. Really hard..how was she supposed to do this? Sayor was really really scared.
Nathaniel began to laugh at her concerns, and she glared playfully, smacking his arm gently. “Im being serious Nath! I have no idea what on earth I am doing!” After he calmed down and stopped laughing at her, he actually gave her..some crappy advice. Be yourself he said. Well...Sayor didn’t know if people would like herself! Herself was brutally honest! She needed a script. Crud. “You forgot the script! Great, thats it, Im going home. Turn this car around, I might as well just die right here of my own causes instead of embarrassment in there.” She said dramatically, pretending to swoon like a damsel in distress. She was being totally and completely serious. This was awkward. She just didn’t want to screw up.
Eventually Nath got her to give in, and she reluctantly climbed out of the car, getting plenty of weird looks from people. She looked down insecurely, discreetly reaching up and feeling for her hair under her hat, relieved to find that it was still there. Whenever she felt like people were staring it reminded her of when she was bald, when she lost all of her hair. She hated that period, it was right when she was at the most self conscious period of time too, and she had to spend it bald. So now, whenever she was stared at that was the place she went to. Bald.
They walked inside, Sayor keeping up with Nath’s brisk pace, feeling awkward as he said hello to a couple of awkward brunettes. Ew. Say already didn’t like them. They were too perky. It was okay to be negative once and a while ladies. Golly. Sayor followed him down the hallway, finally feeling like maybe she would be able to survive more than a day in this huge high school, until Paisley showed up. The girl was annoying as heck. Her little squeal and “Nathy!” bit annoyed the heck out of her. Really? What was she like...five? Ew. Sayor stood back as Nath scooped her up and spun her around in a circle, holding her tightly and calling her Paise.Not cute. Over his shoulder “Paise” sent Sayor the nastiest glare Say had ever seen. If looks could Kill, Say would be dead. Unfortunately, Sayor was forced to smile and be nice to the brat when Nath tugged on her arm, bringing her forward. Sayor plastered on a smile, holding her hand out. “Hi! I'm Sayor! It’s so good to meet you!” Instead of taking her hand, Paisley grabbed Sayor’s arm, pulling her close, claiming that she only believed in hugs.
Sayor hugged her back, not surprised when Paisley took this opportunity to threaten her. Great. First five minutes and Say had an enemy. “Stay away from him or else I’ll make your life miserable.” Paisley whispered, causing Sayor to stiffen. Yeah right. Like she was staying away. Nath was her friend. They both pulled away, matching tight smiles on their lips. See. She should have stayed in the car. “Great to meet you Sayor! I can tell we are going to be the best of friends!” She said fakely for Naths sake, just as a bunch of people walked over. “Yo yo yo Harrison!”
Sayor was a little anxious to meet his friends, worried they wouldn’t like her. She was generally a likeable person, if she remembered to keep her mouth shut. The thing about Say was that she didn’t like to keep her mouth shut. She generally said whatever she wanted about whoever she wanted and didn’t have to worry about the repercussions because whenever she did that it was to the nurses at the hospitals, and she just got a new nurse and a reputation for being picky. That was it! Here, in High School it would get her the reputation as a brat. Sayor didn’t want that. At all. She wanted to be liked, to fit in, to fit the mold of Nathaniels friends. Except..that was hard. Really hard..how was she supposed to do this? Sayor was really really scared.
Nathaniel began to laugh at her concerns, and she glared playfully, smacking his arm gently. “Im being serious Nath! I have no idea what on earth I am doing!” After he calmed down and stopped laughing at her, he actually gave her..some crappy advice. Be yourself he said. Well...Sayor didn’t know if people would like herself! Herself was brutally honest! She needed a script. Crud. “You forgot the script! Great, thats it, Im going home. Turn this car around, I might as well just die right here of my own causes instead of embarrassment in there.” She said dramatically, pretending to swoon like a damsel in distress. She was being totally and completely serious. This was awkward. She just didn’t want to screw up.
Eventually Nath got her to give in, and she reluctantly climbed out of the car, getting plenty of weird looks from people. She looked down insecurely, discreetly reaching up and feeling for her hair under her hat, relieved to find that it was still there. Whenever she felt like people were staring it reminded her of when she was bald, when she lost all of her hair. She hated that period, it was right when she was at the most self conscious period of time too, and she had to spend it bald. So now, whenever she was stared at that was the place she went to. Bald.
They walked inside, Sayor keeping up with Nath’s brisk pace, feeling awkward as he said hello to a couple of awkward brunettes. Ew. Say already didn’t like them. They were too perky. It was okay to be negative once and a while ladies. Golly. Sayor followed him down the hallway, finally feeling like maybe she would be able to survive more than a day in this huge high school, until Paisley showed up. The girl was annoying as heck. Her little squeal and “Nathy!” bit annoyed the heck out of her. Really? What was she like...five? Ew. Sayor stood back as Nath scooped her up and spun her around in a circle, holding her tightly and calling her Paise.Not cute. Over his shoulder “Paise” sent Sayor the nastiest glare Say had ever seen. If looks could Kill, Say would be dead. Unfortunately, Sayor was forced to smile and be nice to the brat when Nath tugged on her arm, bringing her forward. Sayor plastered on a smile, holding her hand out. “Hi! I'm Sayor! It’s so good to meet you!” Instead of taking her hand, Paisley grabbed Sayor’s arm, pulling her close, claiming that she only believed in hugs.
Sayor hugged her back, not surprised when Paisley took this opportunity to threaten her. Great. First five minutes and Say had an enemy. “Stay away from him or else I’ll make your life miserable.” Paisley whispered, causing Sayor to stiffen. Yeah right. Like she was staying away. Nath was her friend. They both pulled away, matching tight smiles on their lips. See. She should have stayed in the car. “Great to meet you Sayor! I can tell we are going to be the best of friends!” She said fakely for Naths sake, just as a bunch of people walked over. “Yo yo yo Harrison!”
Sayor was quiet once again, an usual side of her that Nathan didn't see often. He was certain that the two girls would become best friends, since he knew Paisely pretty well and their upbeat personalities could totally work together. They were in the same grade, and the two girls had him in common. Of course, Nathaniel liked Sayor in a way that had never been there for Paisely, but still. He was clueless that Paise had the biggest crush humanely possible on him, starting when they entered middle school and the kids began to have their week long relationships. Nathaniel was pleased to see the girls start off pretty well, not realizing that the strained smiles were fake, and that there was no friendship between the two girls that glared each other down. They introduced each other in a friendly manner, embracing in that way that girls greeted each other all the time. Nath was pleased that the two girls got along, standing back and glancing about the hallways in search of familiar friends he could introduce Sayor to. Girl friends, he had to find them. Sayor may or may not enjoy the company of his guy buddies as they maybe could be obnoxious and silly at times, so he wanted her to have an alternative at all times. Besides, all girls needed their little clique, and as close as he and Sayor got, she still had to have at least one female to be able to confide her deepest secrets and personal things he'd never understand.Nathan gave Sayor an "I told you so" look with an accomplished grin when Paisely exclaimed that they'd be best friends, until his face felt like it would split. For his sake, she was smiling back, but something seemed a little bit off. However, Nath didn't have time to ask what was wrong, before a voice echoed down the hall from behind him. It was Smitty, skipping towards him in some soccer sweats and Nathaniels shirt he had let him borrow a few weeks ago. Grinning, Nathaniel met his friend halfway, the remainder of their gang lagging behind looking at something on Jaggers phone and guffawing ridiculously. Paisely trailed after him trying to fit in, having an unhealthy obsession with his friends as well, while Sayor stayed behind. Nath temporarily forgot about Say as he high five and chest bumped his friends, greeting them with excitement. It wasn't like they had been separated for long, as he had seen them either at cross country practice, or gone to hang out with them at some point or other the past two weeks, but it was the idea of being back and school as one.
Smitty, Jagger, Derek, Duncan. Once they'd all exchanged their customary "sup"s and such, Nathaniel actually addressed the situation at hand. Smitty was still wearing his shirt, and he sort of wanted it back. Grinning, Nath took his friend in a head lock, earning a playful whoop as the two wrestled in the hallway. "I want my shirt back! Come on Smit, you've had it since last month!" Nathaniel whined, the two smacking each other lightly in jest. "Fine fine fine! I'll give it to you... tomorrow! I swear dude!" Cameron laughed, grinning as he escaped Naths clutches. Paisely had begun to talk to Jagger, flipping her hair over her shoulder trying to get the quarterbacks attention. Jagger was thankfully not one of the jock types that got too full of himself, and was rather modest about his popularity with most of the school. He wasn't one to really care for Paiselys type, ignoring the redheads fluttering eyelashes to point at Sayor discreetly, whispering and asking if that could be Nathans new friend.
Duncan joined Jagger and Derek, grinning and laughing while Nathaniel was preoccupied with Smitty. They'd been bugging their sheltered innocent little Nath since the day he'd told them about Sayor, pestering him all night long in the group message until he gave in and told them all about Sayor. He told them alot about her appearance, how she smelled, and when they went out in the hammock and talked after dinner. Nath left out the cancer, and the whole conflict with her father of course, but was entirely honest when he mentioned how nerve wracking the entire night had been, how he spent all his nights texting her, how he often saw her on his runs. Nathaniel, who never showed such a keen interest on girls, now had a little crush on his neighbor lady friend. They certainly all approved of Sayor, since she was pretty and seemed like a decent girl. She was shy, just like Nath it seemed, and it only made it better.
"Hey Nate! Is this the girl you've been swooning over recently? Sayor, isn't that her name?" Duncan said loudly in the hallway for all to hear, distracting Nath from attacking Smitty for his shirt and talking about the cross country practice schedule for that week. They'd all reunited in a sort of circle, opened at one end where Sayor stood a distance away from them. Paisely obviously looked miffed, huffing impatiently and rolling her eyes as she stood excluded from the boys. Nathans face grew bright red, entirely embarassed and humiliated. Had Duncan really just...? He was so going to get it later, Nathaniel would make sure of it! How could he say that out loud? Sayor wasn't supoosed to know, what if she thought he was weird for liking her or something like that? What if she only ever wanted to be friends? Beaides, Nath wasn't even sure he liked her in that way yet. He was conflicted, but his gut told him different.
The group nudged Nath teasingly as he broke off into a nervous smile, cringing with apology at Sayor. His face was bright red, redder than his shoes, as he avoided Sayors eyes. Instead, he hissed at Duncan warningly, punching his arm hard with a squeezed fist. Stupid! "This is Sayor, she's my neighbor," he emohasized irritably, more afraid of his secret getting out about his feelings than concentrating how his words might sound to Sayor. She wasn't just his neighbor of course, she was his closest female friend, but if he told his friends that, it wouldn't help his case one bit. Just make it worse. "She's gonna hang out with us, I mean unless she ditches me and makes new friends," Nath rolled his eyes jokingly, although he was oartly serious. What if she did ditch him and went off with someone else? What if- what if she found another guy-? Would he become chopped liver?
Jagger was the first to step up and introduce himself, unable to resist shooting teasing glances back at Nathaniel. Duncan wiggled his eyebrows between the two, Derek and Smitty bit their lip to keep from laughing and being childish. Nathaniel hated them all so much right now. Paisely had stuck to Naths side, sending icy stares of jealousy as Nathaniels little crew introduce themselves one after the other. They'd have so much fun with this, and Nath regretted for a moment even coming here today. "He's a little shy, but he's cool once you get to know him," Jagger promised earnestly, putting in a good word for his buddy. "Hey, guys, leave her alone! Geez... don't listen to 'em, Say," he sighed heavily, pushing Smitty away from Sayor and putting his arm protectively around her shoulders, turning her away from them. They were harassing her and this wasn't going to help her be happy here! Paisely scowled, dropping the sweet girl act as she pouted off to the side with her cheerleader cronies beside her whispering. "Whatever, Nath," Derek laughed, although they eventually did drop the teasing. It would be a shame if they had scared away Naths only love, right?
Nicknames:Nathan; Nathy, Nat; never Nate
Birthday: December 2
Age: 17
Hometown: Lansing, Michigan
Occupation:
Education: Senior, DHS
Appearance:
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Faceclaim: Kian Lawley
Height: 5'10
Weight: 142 lbs
Style:
Nathan dresses casually, like any high school boy. He doesn't believe in sagging his pants, tank tops, or tshirts with crude images on them. He dresses to set a good image for himself. (view spoiler)[
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Personality:
Nathaniel is sweet, loving, and open towards all people, wether they have been good to him or not. He respects other people's values, and his own as well. He could be considered a goody two shoes, and it makes people annoyed with him. However, Nathan still surrounds him self with good people with similar morals to himself. He is shy, and rarely speaks in class. When he's nervous, he smiles uncertainly and fidgets.
*introverted *sweet *shy *gentle *caring
History:
Nathaniel Harrison was born to two happily married parents in the cold of Lansing, Michigan. He grew up as a single child having everything he could possibly wanted, except for a sibling to play with. When he was nine, his parents adopted a baby girl since they were unable to have any more children. His new sister had respiratory problems and often spends her time in the hospital, but Nathaniel loves her dearly. He would sit hours upon hours in the hospital room, reading her stories or watching her sleep. Currently, Desirae doesn't have any major problems that require her to go to the hospital, but it could happen any given moment.
Nathaniel has lived in Lansing for most of his life, and is adjusted to frigid snow weather. However, they moved to Denver when he was 16, due to a job transfer, out of their comfy cabin-like home in the middle of a small pine forest. Nathan isn't used to smaller house spaces in the city, as well as the crowded streets and smoggy air, but is getting used to it. Nathaniel's parents raised him and Desirae to be obedient, charitable, and a 'goody two shoes', which was a common personality trait in the area he had lived in back east.
The Harrisons live happily in their one family home on the outskirts of Denver, a two mile walk to school. Nathaniel doesn't mind the exercise, and walks every day to and from school the two miles both ways. He is on the cross country team, and the track and field team.
Family:
-Father; Declan James Harrison; 41
-Mother; Susanne Pierce-Harrison; 38
-Sister; Desirae Grace Harrison; 7
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Likes:
*his track/field and cross country family
*pasta
*golden retrievers
*all Italian food
*navy blue, red
*competition
*cats
Dislikes:
-rap songs
-drugs/alcohol/etc.
-orange
-conditioning
Hobbies:
~Helping others
~Running
~Hanging out with friends
Vehicle or Transportation:
Other:
Track and cross country