Daybreak | IC Inbox.

[awooligan]

CLIFFORD NORMAN
UN: REDRIDINGHOODIE

STATUS: grade 11

ACCOLADES: n/a.

BIO: name's cliff. let me know if you'll buy cigarettes and shit for me, we can work something out.

© TESSISAMESS

Comments

[kept_his_letters]

[Her brow furrows. Her mouth presses. And then, she's turning.]

No. I don't know what you mean. You said wrong. Not different, not weird, wrong. And more importantly, it's not fine! No one's fighting you here because no one here is that cruel that they'd keeping beating up someone who refuses to fight back! Your Mom thinks it's your fault and so does your brother!

[She jumps to her feet. She paces. She shouldn't let herself get worked up. But that last part, that hits too close.]

You just saved the world. And you're letting the people who love you think you're just a dead-end. I'm guessing you're either never going home or you're going to let it happen again.

[She stops, facing away from him. She draws a breath, and some calm.]

You don't need to tell me. It's... I don't need to know. But don't tell me it's not important. You shouldn't be suggesting you don't matter.

[awooligan]

[Her agitation on his behalf doesn't seem to do much but throw him for a loop, and with his eyes he watches her pace with increasing concern. He's quiet, letting her say her piece, but maybe a little too still.

What does she want from him?]

They don't... Um. [His gaze is fixed on her, looking for any sudden movement or hint that he was saying the right or wrong thing. He doesn't want to mess this up, but he shouldn't...lie to her, either.] It isn't like that's the only thing they think I do wrong. Kevin told you, I like doing things, uh, bad stuff they don't want me doing.

[Cliff exhales, trying to run out some of the tension as quietly as possible. Without being too obvious about it.]

They can think what they want, it's really fine. Don't worry about it.

[kept_his_letters]

[She's glad she didn't turn. Like usual, she hasn't made a dent. She hugs her arms tighter to herself. She takes his words, swallows them down, and decides she'll do what she always does; what she wants to, in secret and alone. She didn't even have a solution yet. Better to come forward with the problem fixed than just talk about it.]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pried.

[She doesn't sound sorry. Oh well. She turns and puts on a weak smile.]

Anyway, I wanted to ask if you'd like to get up to some trouble now that the call's done. I don't think your stepdad liked me very much. It seems a shame to let down his expectations of me as a sinister co-conspirator.

[awooligan]

[Quite frankly, he’s glad she didn’t turn either, with how much damage it seems he’s already done. It wasn’t fair that to keep his mom and brother happy, he had to disappoint his friend...but unfortunately, that’s the side he had to pick. He liked Coco. He loves his family.]

It’s fine, [he says again, more softly this time, like it’s more of an apology than the one she just gave. He’s still tense when she finally faces him, and he doesn’t seem all that encouraged by her smile, but he’s more than ready to move on.]

Don’t worry, it’s just because you’re my friend. He wouldn’t have been able to tell you’re trouble otherwise.

[Cliff tips his head and gives his own hesitant smile, moving his foot back to the floor.]

What’s up?

[kept_his_letters]

[She laughs a little.]

I'm not worried. His opinion doesn't mean anything to me. Even if he's right just this once.

[There were people who thought worse things of her. That look had been one she recognized.]

And I've got nothing specific in mind. I just didn't want to end things on a bummer note. Also, it's still early in Mexico and I can't sleep yet. So, trouble it is.

[awooligan]

[The fact that she already knows to say “Fuck what Carl says/wants” certainly helps lift his spirits back up. And he gets to choose their criminal activity... What a generous friend she is. Hopefully this isn’t going to help prove his stepdad’s view of him and make her change her mind.]

...Want to help me steal some cigarettes?

[he hasn’t smoked in so long help]

[kept_his_letters]

[Her head tilts. She looks up, pondering.]

How about sneaking into the teacher's lounge and raiding the fridge for things? If you start smoking, I can't sit with you. I don't like the smell.

[Out of luck, Cliff.]

[awooligan]

[Ah... The smile falls and he finds himself looking away again -- not completely, but enough off to the side that he doesn't have to see her face.]

...Again. Start smoking again, because I would all the time if I could. I like the way it feels. And the only thing I'd be hoping to find in the teacher's lounge to steal would be beer or liquor, which I dunno if they'd have.

[Being a teacher's lounge, and all. That sort of thing should be kept wherever they considered home, right? Thinking on that helps to distract from the fear he's disappointing her yet again because despite his and Kevin's warnings, she hadn't actually considered he might...be like this.]

[kept_his_letters]

[Her own smile falls too, but her expression stays soft.]

Cliff, I know what you meant. I'm not going to take off on you forever for some little thing. I just didn't want to sit beside you while you were doing it and I kind of still wanted an excuse to hang out.

[Hang out, take his mind of things... Stellar work there. Her mouth presses.]

But, it's okay. It was a dumb idea anyway. I'm sorry for barging in on your family time and... all that. I'm going to head back out to the commons. I left some stuff out there that I should probably tidy up.

[awooligan]

[He cautiously slides his eyes back onto her, not wanting to be relieved too early. It didn't change the fact that his main social activity and way to cope was becoming another thing making him alone. Cliff pushes himself onto his feet, an arm coming across to hug the other one close to him. As if he hadn't been embarrassed enough already...]

I don't -- um. You don't need an excuse to hang out with me. I already, uh, like hanging out with you. A-and I thought it would be fun or whatever, if you met Kevin...

[kept_his_letters]

[She pauses, looking back at him. Slowly, the proper smile comes back.]

I'm glad then. And, it was really nice to meet Kevin. He's a cute kid.

[awooligan]

[Phew. He gives an awkward smile back, even if he can feel his blush getting worse. Just fucking throw him in a dumpster.]

He is, yeah. [Cute and good. The perfect balance to him.

Ummm.] I can help you, if you want? With the stuff you left out there. Then maybe we can, like, walk around. Not keeping up with his fake curfew bullshit would be enough to piss Carl off, anyway.

[They could still be troublemakers!]

[kept_his_letters]

[The awful feeling in her guts to have mucked this all up so bad is starting to ease. She'd like this to go back to being comfortable and not painful and awkward.]

I'd like that. All of that.

[awooligan]

[Phew. He stops holding himself, though before he can take a step he hears his phone buzz with a text alert. He glances at it too quickly to have gotten any actual information from it, then shoves it in his back pocket. Just going to ignore that.]

Great. Let's go. [With each passing second, Cliff gets more of his usual confidence back. He strides out into the common area, ready to get going.]