Café du Monde

[More than Music]

OOC: I guess this is only going to be one post long... Sorry :< But it's for beautiful plot bunnies, so... ^_^
BIC:

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

Yes, he probably shouldn't have been there. Yes, he probably shouldn't have stayed once he realized that Silhouette was here. Yes, he probably shouldn't have hidden behind a magazine a few tables over so he could listen in once he heard them talking about him.

Because he was starting to get seriously ticked off. It was like when he was flipping through the channels and a soap opera goes by. He never knew why, but those soap operas were just black holes of time, because he always got sucked in. Crap.

"I wish he wouldn't've done that. I wish I didn't care so much-- other people are like, 'oh, it's just a kiss, whatever', right? But I don't feel like that, and I feel like I should feel like that." Silhouette said, her voice pulling him into the conversation like flies to honey or dogs to raw meat.

'I wish you didn't care so much too. You ruined everything.'

"Aw, but honey, it does mean something to you! If you feel angry, just feel angry about it! Unless there's more to it than some jerk stealing your first kiss? Not that it doesn't mean something big! I'm just sayin'...is there more to it?" her friend suggested. Chance Savege. Ooooooh Clarence remembered Chance. He was a hard guy to forget. And Clarence was glad he hadn't tried to strike up a conversation. Just the idea of getting stuck in a conversation with Chance sent a shiver through him. He didn't get along with... people of such personality.

'...What do you mean, 'more to it'? Do y'all seriously think I knew that was her first kiss? Come on, you expect me to know everything just because I act like I do? 'More to it' is that I actually DO like her, I just couldn't bring myself to say it!'

"I don't want to like him. At all. In any way, shape, or form." Silhouette's words hit him like a rock, actually knocking the air out of his lungs.

'.....What?'

"Do you really mean that?" Chance asked, saying the very words on Clarence's tongue. The rest of their conversation fell on deaf ears; Clarence was absolutely frozen in place, trying to catch his breath again. Her words just kept echoing in his head.

"I don't want to like him. At all. In any way, shape, or form." That was on infinite repeat and he couldn't find the stop button. A surge of anger made him move, and he threw the magazine forwards, toppling the table. A crash of glass and something clattering to the floor sounded very familiar. He didn't bother to try and pick anything up as he rushed outside, hopefully before Silhouette could see that it had been him.

'Any way shape or form, huh? Well, fine. FINE. Then forget it. Forget it ever happened. Forget I ever came by. Just... forget me. You never cared about me anyway, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch. Screw you. Forget you.'

His hands gripped the wheel like a vice as he drove away.

'I haven't needed you before. I don't need you now.'


Clarence is done here. : )

[Elda Forever]

Chance Savege


"I wish he wouldn't've done that. I wish I didn't care so much-- other people are like, 'oh, it's just a kiss, whatever', right? But I don't feel like that, and I feel like I should feel like that."

"Aw, but honey, it does mean something to you! If you feel angry, just feel angry about it!" She shifted a little uncomfortably. He arched an eyebrow at her, then continued, "Unless there's more to it than some jerk stealing your first kiss?" Their eyes met for a long moment, and he tried to cover for the possible misunderstanding. "Not that it doesn't mean something big! I'm just sayin'...is there more to it?"

She sipped at her tea again, weighing her words. "I don't want to like him. At all. In any way, shape, or form."

Chance just nodded at that one, quiet for a minute before he answered. "Do you really mean that?" She looked at him, as if daring him to disbelieve her. "You don't sound so sure. 'Cause, see..." He held out a palm upward. "On one hand, you've gotten your first kiss stolen by a guy you barely know." He held up the other palm as Silhouette nodded in agreement. "On the other hand, you've gotten your first kiss stolen by a guy you barely know, which, in a lot of books, is kinda romantic."

He chuckled as Silhouette looked at him warily. She never really got the whole dark and dangerous draw that some guys had. Tortured souls, that whole bunch. Silhouette just wasn't a hopeless romantic. In a lot of ways, she was smarter than that. But Chance was sure there was a part of her that really did want someone to sweep her off her feet. It was the same part of her that made her first kiss such a big deal.

Chance paused, then made a disgusted face as an idea occurred to him. A very logical reason for Si to not be so hot on the idea of Clarence-guy. "Unless he tried tongue or something weird like that. Tongue on a first kiss is a dead no-no." Si just stared at him with wide eyes. He couldn't read that expression one way or the other.

He leaned farther onto the table, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "What I'm saying is I think you're over-thinking this. You said you don't want to like him. You never said you didn't like him. And you're smart and choose your words all careful and stuff, Si. So I think that means something." Chance slouched back, picking at his fingernails. "But then again, I may just be a sucker for romance."

"This isn't romance, Chance!" she half-whispered, desperation written between the curves of her face. He glanced up to see the eagerness for him to get it in her eyes. "It isn't romantic for me! It's just really... confusing..." she finished weakly, sitting back "Other girls want to be in this kind of situation, don't they... And I don't want to be like other girls..."

He smiled, nodded, and leaned forward to place his hand on hers, "Then don't be like other girls, Si." He giggled, "Goodness knows you're good at being different. And if this guy --"

They were interrupted by the sounds of a small eruption a few tables over. A guy was running away from the mess of a table overturned, storming off as water spilled over broken glass. Chance looked over at Si, not speaking. He could guess who the guy was.

Sometimes he wished he wasn't so odd. He wished he could've been a good guy for Si, to have stolen her first kiss. Then he wouldn't see the torn look on her face right now. It was too bad one of the things he couldn't help thinking as Clarence-guy walked away was that he was definitely going in the yummy category.

It would've made things so much simpler right now.

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"This isn't romance, Chance! It isn't romantic for me! It's just really... confusing..." she finished weakly, sitting back. "Other girls want to be in this kind of situation, don't they... And I don't want to be like other girls..."

He smiled, nodded, and leaned forward to place his hand on hers, "Then don't be like other girls, Si." He sad it like it could be so easy. "Goodness knows you're good at being different. And if this guy --"

Chance's words were drowned out- well, more like stopped altogether, really-- by the complete crashing of a nearby table. Silhouette jumped at the suddenness, but froze when she saw who had caused the ruckus.

He was hightailing it out of there, like a bat out of hell. Or like a guy who had confessed in more than words and was hearing the rejection. Oh, no... She felt like sinking until she was under the table. Instead, Silhouette sat there, dumbfounded. It took her a moment to speak again.

"Oh god... Chance, that was him." She pressed a hand to her mouth. "He thinks I hate him. I don't, though!" She turned with a sense of urgency to Chance. "I don't hate him, I couldn't really hate him if I tried, and now he thinks I hate him..." Oh god... She dropped her forehead to rest in her hands, little tears slipping from her eyes. I didn't mean to hurt you...

[Elda Forever]

Chance Savege

He thought they had just gone out for coffee. He'd been thrown in the middle of a very tough moment for Si. Chance stared after the quickly vanishing image of Clarence as he stormed out of the place in a fury. Chance, with wide eyes, looked back at Si, at a complete loss for words.

"Oh god... Chance, that was him." She pressed a hand to her mouth. Whether it was to wipe away the memory of his kiss or to seal away the words she'd already said, he didn't know. "He thinks I hate him. I don't, though!" She turned with a sense of urgency to Chance, who offered a sad little smile. "I don't hate him, I couldn't really hate him if I tried, and now he thinks I hate him..." She buried her face in her hands, and he knew the tears were starting to fall.

"Now, honey, that's what I'm sayin'..." He glanced back up to where Clarence had disappeared. "I'd tell you to race after him, but I'm sure he's already halfway across town by now, the way he was running. So athletic..." he shook his head, clicking his tongue as he touched Si's head with one hand and leaned down towards her. "Si, you do know he was eavesdropping on you, right? That means he's serious about you. Well...uh.. serious enough to stalk you, at least." Chance didn't bother to hide his dubious tone. Maybe helping this relationship along wasn't the best thing. But backtracking now would just make him fickle. And not a very good friend. "Why don't you talk to him, huh? Maybe you two can still work this out."

He tried to imagine how that conversation would go in his head. Si was angry because Clarence had just gone and kissed her, and Clarence was ticked because Si had been angry about the kiss. It was like some TV drama. Chance brushed Si's hair with his fingertips, trying to be comforting to her. Then he frowned and tapped on the table lightly with his knuckles, talking in a voice torn between the light-hearted, giddy tone he always used and the serious, take-me-seriously-for-once voice he wanted now. "Silhouette St. James, you sit up and start making plans to go talk to that boy, and don't give me any crap about 'he'll never forgive me' or 'it's too late now'. I know you better than that. You're different. Just thank the Lord he's a yummy stalker, and not just a creeper." He let out a sigh of relief, sat back in his chair and crossed his legs, fixing her with a stare of determination.

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"I don't hate him, I couldn't really hate him if I tried, and now he thinks I hate him..." Silhouette buried her hot face in her hands.

"Now, honey, that's what I'm sayin'..." What? What are you saying? She sank a little deeper in her seat.

"I'd tell you to race after him, but I'm sure he's already halfway across town by now, the way he was running. So athletic..."

I'm not so pathetic that I would race after him anyway... I'm not. Because you can't just start thinking you like someone because they took your kiss... She shook her head only slightly.

Silhouette felt Chance's hand on her as he leaned in to tell her, "Si, you do know he was eavesdropping on you, right?"

Silhouette affirmed his words with a little groan. She knew... she wished she didn't, though.

"That means he's serious about you. Well...uh.. serious enough to stalk you, at least."

"Don't..." Don't say it like that... it makes him sound worse than he is... no, that's not what I meant, either..!

"Why don't you talk to him, huh? Maybe you two can still work this out."

"Chance, he thinks I hate him... Why would he listen to me? I don't even know..." I don't even know what I would tell him... 'I don't hate you?' What a great apology... Her head went back into her hands, trying to hide her face from any onlookers that might be staring at her. God, how embarrassing...

Chance brushed her hair with his fingertips, a gesture she recognized as an attempt to comfort. It didn't really work, but she appreciated the idea. Then with a slight wrap on the table, Chance started, in a pretty authoritative tone for him, "Silhouette St. James, you sit up and start making plans to go talk to that boy, and don't give me any crap about 'he'll never forgive me' or 'it's too late now'. I know you better than that. You're different. Just thank the Lord he's a yummy stalker, and not just a creeper." He sounded satisfied with that, though his adamant tone had somewhat surprised Silhouette. She could probably count on one hand the many times he'd taken that tone that she could even remember.

She looked at him, still feeling at a total loss. "What, do you want me to walk up to his front door and tell him I don't hate him? I don't even know what I would say, Chance... I just... i don't know. I'm sorry."

[Elda Forever]

Chance Savege

"Why don't you talk to him, huh? Maybe you two can still work this out."

"Chance, he thinks I hate him... Why would he listen to me? I don't even know..." She buried her face in her hands, and he lightly started to brush away her hair from her face. After a moment he decided against it, pulling away to rap on the table in front of her.

"Silhouette St. James, you sit up and start making plans to go talk to that boy, and don't give me any crap about 'he'll never forgive me' or 'it's too late now'. I know you better than that. You're different. Just thank the Lord he's a yummy stalker, and not just a creeper."

She looked at him with a blank expression. "What, do you want me to walk up to his front door and tell him I don't hate him? I don't even know what I would say, Chance... I just... I don't know. I'm sorry."

Chance smiled a little at that. "How about just talking to him, and see what happens? What've you really got to lose? Seriously?"

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"What, do you want me to walk up to his front door and tell him I don't hate him? I don't even know what I would say, Chance... I just... I don't know. I'm sorry."

Chance smiled a little at that. "How about just talking to him, and see what happens? What've you really got to lose? Seriously?"

Dignity, or whatever's left of it... Silhouette thought to herself. Out loud, she just gave a small shrug, her hands held tight together under the tabletop. "Fine.. I'll try to talk to him. But if he doesn't listen, it's out of my hands."

But the idea that she had just managed to defeat herself somehow wouldn't quit nagging her. It was an awful feeling, really...

"So," she voiced with a smile and defaulting to her 'hey, let's change the subject' line in a joking tone, "How about them Saints?" I have no idea when I could get him to listen to me... as if he would now. I made him think I hate him... I don't even think I could hate him... How did I get thrown into this?!

[Elda Forever]

Chance Savege

"What, do you want me to walk up to his front door and tell him I don't hate him? I don't even know what I would say, Chance... I just... I don't know. I'm sorry."

Chance smiled a little at that. "How about just talking to him, and see what happens? What've you really got to lose? Seriously?"

She didn't answer that one outright, thinking it over. He knew she didn't have a real response. She shrugged, looking defeated. "Fine.. I'll try to talk to him. But if he doesn't listen, it's out of my hands."

Chance clapped his hands together with a delighted smile. "Yay!" He then reached over and finished off his now cooled beverage with one gulp. Silhouette didn't seem so psyched about the whole thing, and while he couldn't seriously blame her for that.... he wasn't a very serious person. All the drama between her and Clarence was starting to make him restless. He would be happy beyond belief when Si actually snagged herself a steady boyfriend that Chance could gush over with her.

"So," she voiced with a smile, trying to change the subject. "How about them Saints?"

"Oooh...they're looking good. I never was one much for sports, but you can't deny a little interest in a bunch of pumped up guys in tights..." His eyes started to sparkle. "Much better than basketball uniforms, though there isn't as much skin... " He sent Si a look to show her he was teasing. "Just kidding, just kidding... I just don't have much to tell you right now. No material to change the subject with, you know? You made the afternoon all... serious and stuff..." He shrugged, his eyes flickering heavenward, letting out a light-hearted sigh. "Ah, well. I never liked football that much anyways. So many tackles and shoves, it can be very distracting. That was one of the many things my dad and I can't seem to see eye-to-eye on..." His smile started to fade, and he switched tactics. "So how did the horse-back riding go the other day, huh? I seriously need to come with you one day..." He'd successfully avoided the task from a fear he kind of wished he could overcome from horses for a long time now. Every time he mentioned it to Si, he was so very tempted to face his fear of the huge animals. He was pretty sure he never would, but it was worth a hope. "Ya know, I still can't believe all the stuff you're into.. with the art and the horses, the cooking club and everything... It kinda scares me a little... You're like Wonder Woman or something..."

He smirked, then a light came on in his eyes and he slapped the table with both hands, "OOOOH! I just remembered! I was going to ask if you're coming over to my house to watch TV with me tonight! I figured out a way to call it homework!" He took on the posture of meekness, eyes widened, calling for pity as he acted out sadness, "Mr. Scawy...here is mah report about how modewn sitcoms and famiwy-owiented shows have not died in today's society... it has only gwown!" He indicated the list with his 'free' hand, "iCarly shows us the value of family bonds in a scattered home. Plus yesterday they did an episode..." He held up one hand as if to 'whisper', speaking fast in a stage-hushed tone, "It was basically a rip off of one of those Christmas specials, with the whole short-angel-changes-life-for-meaningful-lessons. It was just beautiful! And in the end, the angel-elf gets a bucket of wings!" He sat back and laughed so hard he almost choked, that high-pitched, almost feminine giggle that irritated his family to no avail.

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"Fine.. I'll try to talk to him. But if he doesn't listen, it's out of my hands."

Her consent-- which was really defeat, but whatever-- seemed to delight Chance in a way she was sure she would never understand. "Yay!" In celebration, she supposed, he downed the rest of whatever was left of his drink. Silhouette, meanwhile, pulled a little at the plastic lid of her cup.

"So," she voiced with a smile, trying to change the subject. "How about them Saints?" She didn't really care all that much, and she knew Chance didn't either, but there was still that local pride she couldn't shake out of her if she tried.

"Oooh...they're looking good. I never was one much for sports, but you can't deny a little interest in a bunch of pumped up guys in tights..." Silhouette started laughing at the description. If she didn't know what he was talking about, she'd think he was meaning ballet dancers on steroids... Okay, so that's the mental picture she was getting anyway. "Much better than basketball uniforms, though there isn't as much skin... "

"Cha-ance!" She was still laughing a little at the picture in her head.

"Just kidding, just kidding... I just don't have much to tell you right now. No material to change the subject with, you know? You made the afternoon all... serious and stuff..." He shrugged.

"It wasn't intentional, I promise," she said, smiling wryly.

"Ah, well. I never liked football that much anyways. So many tackles and shoves, it can be very distracting. That was one of the many things my dad and I can't seem to see eye-to-eye on..."

She saw hi face fall and caught some of the meaning. She gave him a small smile. "It's okay, I hate football, too, and Daddy worships it." Sure, it didn't really fit, but at least it distracted him a little from feeling down.

Still, Chance shifted gears. Not so different than from what she just did. "So how did the horse-back riding go the other day, huh? I seriously need to come with you one day..."

Silhouette laughed a little, now feeling much more at ease at least for the moment, with the whole Clarence burden shared with another person. "Okay, sure, but you're gonna have to find a time where you can't bail on me, all right?"

"Ya know, I still can't believe all the stuff you're into.. with the art and the horses, the cooking club and everything... It kinda scares me a little... You're like Wonder Woman or something..."

"You forgot school and church choirs," she added quietly, giving an effort to be playfully smug like some people but only finding herself feeling silly for it. She liked all those things she did, though. She liked being busy, too. It felt good to be productive and active.

He smiled at her, then out of nowhere attacked the table with his hands so fervently it made Silhouette jump a little. "Oh, gosh--!" she started as Chance moved on: "OOOOH! I just remembered! I was going to ask if you're coming over to my house to watch TV with me tonight! I figured out a way to call it homework!" Silhouette was too busy breathing to regulate the jump he'd put in her heart, so she just smiled at the general ridiculousness as Chance continued demonstrating this stretch of mindless television to schoolwork.

Assuming a cherubesque stance, he 'explained', "Mr. Scawy...here is mah report about how modewn sitcoms and famiwy-owiented shows have not died in today's society... it has only gwown!"

Silhouette was laughing again. "Oh, yeah, that will totally get you the points, no one can say no to that face! Okay, so tell me your logic for this..."

Chance gestured with one hand, "iCarly shows us the value of family bonds in a scattered home. Plus yesterday they did an episode..." He paused to lean forward in mimic conspiracy: "It was basically a rip off of one of those Christmas specials, with the whole short-angel-changes-life-for-meaningful-lessons. It was just beautiful! And in the end, the angel-elf gets a bucket of wings!" He burst into full-blown laughter, making Silhouette's smile stick for a bit longer than it would have earlier, what with the whole Clarence thing...

"Wow... you're really gonna try to write something about an angel with a bucket of chicken wings, or you just wanna get me to actually watch TV?" She laughed again. "Yeah, I can come over, but I have a choir thing at seven. Is that cool?"

[Elda Forever]

Chance Savege

"Ah, well. I never liked football that much anyways. So many tackles and shoves, it can be very distracting. That was one of the many things my dad and I can't seem to see eye-to-eye on..." There was a lot of weight to the memories of his father, and a lot of it lately had been gaining pressure until they had almost reached critical mass. He could only hope it would be forced into a solemn silence. That was the best he could hope for, wasn't it?

He looked up to see Si giving him a small smile. "It's okay, I hate football, too, and Daddy worships it." Chance smiled a little, too. Even though she didn't get it. So he switched the subject - Si had already done that once now, so it was kind of his turn. Going emo was not on his to-do list, for sure.

"So how did the horse-back riding go the other day, huh? I seriously need to come with you one day..."

Silhouette laughed a little, "Okay, sure, but you're gonna have to find a time where you can't bail on me, all right?"

He pouted, but didn't deny that one. Then, "Ya know, I still can't believe all the stuff you're into.. with the art and the horses, the cooking club and everything... It kinda scares me a little... You're like Wonder Woman or something..."

"You forgot school and church choirs," she added quietly. Chance rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her.

"Well, how could I forget those?" He smirked, then leapt up with an epiphany, hands slamming down on the table. Si jumped and exclaimed something, but he didn't hear her. "OOOOH! I just remembered! I was going to ask if you're coming over to my house to watch TV with me tonight! I figured out a way to call it homework!" He took on the posture of meekness, eyes widened, calling for pity as he acted out sadness, "Mr. Scawy...here is mah report about how modewn sitcoms and famiwy-owiented shows have not died in today's society... it has only gwown!"

Silhouette was laughing again. "Oh, yeah, that will totally get you the points, no one can say no to that face! Okay, so tell me your logic for this..."

Chance gestured with one hand, "iCarly shows us the value of family bonds in a scattered home. Plus yesterday they did an episode..." He paused to lean forward in mimic conspiracy: "It was basically a rip off of one of those Christmas specials, with the whole short-angel-changes-life-for-meaningful-lessons. It was just beautiful! And in the end, the angel-elf gets a bucket of wings!" He burst into full-blown laughter, then. Unable to contain himself as usual.

"Wow... you're really gonna try to write something about an angel with a bucket of chicken wings, or you just wanna get me to actually watch TV?"

He beamed, "Yup! I think I can pull it off if I do it right! And maybe give teach some chocolate or something." He bounced in his seat a little, not letting her slip out of answering him, "Soooo...can you come over?"

She laughed again. Yeah, I can come over, but I have a choir thing at seven. Is that cool?"

Chance frowned at that. A choir thing. "Hm...seven's awful early to let you go." He shrugged, and simultaneously with the raising of his shoulders the corners of his lips rose, "But I'll definitely take what I can get!" Chance stood up from the table, grabbing his hand bag and leaning over to kiss Si on the cheek. "I gotta go now, though. So I'll see you as soon as you can make it over, alright? You take care, hotstuff." He wriggled his fingers in a farewell gesture as he strode off, feeling like the whole conversation had come out relatively well. Despite the drama that was inevitable in Si's life. He'd suspected it was only a matter of time before some guy saw her as a challenge or something. So he couldn't say he was really surprised, after all.

Chance is done here!

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"Wow... you're really gonna try to write something about an angel with a bucket of chicken wings, or you just wanna get me to actually watch TV?"

He beamed proudly. "Yup! I think I can pull it off if I do it right! And maybe give teach some chocolate or something." He bounced in his seat a little, not giving up on getting a straight answer from her. She laughed a little at the eagerness. "Soooo...can you come over?"

She laughed again. "Yeah, I can come over, but I have a choir thing at seven. Is that cool?"

Chance frowned at that. It wasn't like it was her fault-- she didn't schedule the times for the practices and all. Surely he was used to that by now? "Hm...seven's awful early to let you go."

She only shook her head with a smile. "I don't choose the practice times."

Chance shrugged, smiling, and finished Silhouette's thought. "But I'll definitely take what I can get!"

"I expect no less!" Silhouette told him with a smile as Chance collected himself. He leaned over and briefly kissed her cheek. "I gotta go now, though. So I'll see you as soon as you can make it over, alright? You take care, hotstuff."

"See you later," she replied simply, smiling her goodbye as he headed on out.

Then she remembered she'd promised Chance that she'd talk to Clarence and try to work it out, whatever "it" was... and her worry slowly crept back in.

Silhouette's done here. Bye-bye. (: [/u]

[Elda Forever]

Chance Savege

He was sitting at a table, tapping one foot happily for the simple reason that he couldn't sit still. Today he had picked out a cute white top with a baby blue scarf tossed over one shoulder, the dark blue jeans with a pink swirly design in thread trailing up the leg. One finger tracing a path down the spiral absentmindedly, he smiled to himself. An Asian boy had just sat down not far from him, and Chance was having a hard time not staring at him.

With a sigh, he shifted in his seat, leaning his cheek on his fist as he pressed his elbow into the table.

'He's not even looking my way. Pretty Asian boy, your face is adorable.'

“Hi!” Chance called out cheerily, wiggling a few fingers at the boy. He was still leaning onto his fist, and when he smiled his cheek puffed out against his knuckles. “You're pretty. Did you know that? Anyway, I'm not liking this whole 'sit alone and drink coffee' thing. I'm guessing from your face you're not such a big fan, either.” He patted the place on the table next to him and grinned. “Sit with me?”

~~~~~

Kagayaki Aidou

It had been a pretty bummer day.

He hadn't heard from Cassie all week, and it was staring to seriously depress him. He stared down at his coffee with one elbow on the table, his hands entwined at the roots of his currently wildly blond hair. They were drifting apart. It was happening again; he was losing someone he'd never though he could lose, just like with Yumi.

'This can't be happening. It's almost like everything starting going downhill after I kissed Yumi... Yeah, I know, it's because of that man, but still... that's how it feels. I know, it's not my fault, and it's definitely not Yumi's fault. I just don't know what to do about it, that's all. I'm really lonely and I'm sure Yuyukun is tired of my sob stories. I miss the way I used to feel; so confident and happy. Why does everything have to be so depressing? It's just not fair.'

His coffee just wasn't as thrilling as it used to be, but the sugar was still being ingested. Maybe, once it finished digesting, then he would feel better. Hopefully.

As if Fate wanted to distract him, someone had been staring at Kagayaki since he'd come in. It was a bit unnerving to say the least. Especially because it was a guy, and his starry gaze was more than a little strange. Yes, he'd had guys stare at him like that before... back when the band had been playing. But that didn't make it any less weird now. He wasn't used to it anymore.

“Hi!” the stranger proclaimed, waving with each finger individually. Kagayaki had a huge headache, and his face showed his lack of enthusiasm. “You're pretty. Did you know that?”

Well, that made him smile, even produced a little laugh. “Ts'ank you,” was all he said. 'You're silly, did you know that? And where are you trying to go with this, telling me I'm 'pretty'? I'm not, not really. Girly, maybe. Pitiful too. But pretty isn't the word I'd use to describe myself right now.'

Apparently, this guy had already drank a good amount of coffee. “Anyway, I'm not liking this whole 'sit alone and drink coffee' thing. I'm guessing from your face you're not such a big fan, either.”

Kagayaki nodded, taking a drink of his coffee. “Lonely,” he said, in a little voice.

The other guy gave his table a pat and sent him a grin. “Sit with me?”

Sure, what did he have to lose? He'd made someone's day here by being that very same way. Maybe this was Fate's way of saying he'd actually earned to get it in return. Kagayaki nodded, taking hold of his cup a little too quickly. “Ah!” He let go off it too quickly too, spilling coffee. He sent the eccentric stranger a pout. “I do bad. I... I clumsy.” Trying to clean it up without burning himself, Kagayaki managed to get over to the other table without injuring himself time, so he let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, better, yah.” He tilted his head a little. “You clumsy too is?”

~~~~~

Chance Savege

“Hi!” Chance started the conversation with a smile, which he didn't get immediately in return. Poor Asian boy. “You're pretty. Did you know that?”

A real smile that time. Chance could have clapped his hands together for glee. “Ts'ank you,” was all he said. But that was enough for Chance to hear his voice, and that did make him react. His mouth fell open wide in shock and disbelief, and he gestured wildly with his hands.

“Oh. My. GOSH. Your accent!” He let out a merry little laugh, taking another drink of his coffee. Friends often would have told him to lay off the caffeine at this point, but the new Asian guy didn't know that. Pretty as he was, he hadn't heard the countless times Chance had declared that, 'You can only take my coffee away if you pry it from my cold, dead, well-manicured fingertips!'
With a sigh he continued, “Anyway, I'm not liking this whole 'sit alone and drink coffee' thing. I'm guessing from your face you're not such a big fan, either.”

The guy nodded, taking a solemn sip. As solemn a sip as he could manage, actually. “Lonely,” he said, in a little voice. Chance couldn't withhold a grin from the way he loosened his Ls. That is seriously adorable. This guy belongs in a tv drama or something. Or baby food commercials, I dunno...

He affectionately patted the place next to him and grinned. I can fix lonely. “Sit with me?”

The guy actually indulged him, nodded and starting to rise before he had a full-fledged clumsy attack. It would have made more sense in physics if a bear had come running through the room and slammed down the guy's hand on the table to force him to loosen his grip on the coffee cup than what actually happened. Chance could only smile, smile, smile. He actually giggled aloud when he saw the pout being sent his way. “I do bad. I... I clumsy.” Chance had to try and stifle the giggles behind both hands, clasping them to his lips and almost smothering his own self. The Asian boy sat next to him and let out a sigh. Chance savored the moment of control, eyes sparkling at him over his still-clasped hands. “Okay, better, yah.” The guy tilted his head a little. Metaphorically, that tilt of the head pushed Chance off his metaphorical rocker.“You clumsy too is?”

Chance rolled off into unrestrained laughter, finally managing to 'fan' himself with his hands, letting out long gasps for air, “Oh my gosh, Asian boy, are you for real?” He reached over and gently pinched the round, baby-like cheeks of the guy, “You are seriously freaking adorable.” He drew back suddenly, looking him up and down. “You're taken already, right?” Chance shrugged, not waiting for an answer. “No matter. I can't possibly expect to win 'em all.”

The boy took another sip of his coffee, lowering it just in time to mutter, “'Better is...yah?'” before erupting into another giggle-fit. He turned to meet his companion's eyes, and held out a hand, “My name's Chance. And I am very glad to meet you now.”

~~~~~

Kagayaki Aidou

“Hi! You're pretty. Did you know that?”

Kagayaki couldn't help but smile. “Ts'ank you.”

This strange stranger's mouth fell open. “Oh. My. GOSH. Your accent!” The guy let out a happy laugh that forced a chuckle out of Kagayaki 'I like this guy. He's fun.' “Anyway, I'm not liking this whole 'sit alone and drink coffee' thing. I'm guessing from your face you're not such a big fan, either.”

He nodded. “Lonely,” he said quietly.

The guy gave his table a pat, smilingly in a friendly way. “Sit with me?”

Kagayaki nodded, trying to get up without causing a commotion. He failed. Grabbing his cup too fast was the first mistake. Spilling the coffee was the other one. “I do bad. I... I clumsy.” he remarked, finally managing to sit next to this guy without making another mess. “Okay, better, yah.” He looked at this guy a little sideways, trying to read him at least a little. “You clumsy too is?”

It wasn't until the guy laughed at him that Kagayaki's mood was crushed. Frowning, Kagayaki hid behind his coffee cup. 'Don't laugh at me... it's not funny. I'm a total klutz, and it's not good.' “Oh my gosh, Asian boy, are you for real?” The guy reached over and pinched Kagayaki's cheeks when he looked up in confusion. So he had to laugh. 'You're like my okaasan.' “You are seriously freaking adorable.” Kagayaki laughed again.

“Ts'ank you?”

The guy looked him up and down, which was a little weird, and kept Kagayaki smiling. “You're taken already, right?” Kagayaki's mouth fell open. 'Oh, so that's what it is. You're flirting with me. Um... you know what? I don't care. I like you. You're fun.' “No matter. I can't possibly expect to win 'em all.” Kagayaki tilted his head to the side again. 'You're so open about it... like it's totally okay. I've seen people joke about it, but never... Hey, why can't I be like you? You're sure of yourself. You're happy with the way you are. I liked being that way. I miss it. Can you give that back to me? I'll sit here all day with you if you can. I don't think Cassiechan will miss me. Or anyone else for that matter. No one will miss me if I stay here.' The guy calmed for a moment, then muttered something to himself, giggling again. Kagayaki hadn't heard it, but it had obviously been funny, so he smiled at this guy. 'Yeah, you're a lot like I was. That's kind of silly, isn't it?' The guy held a hand out, which Kagayaki had to remind himself was an American greeting. He'd been in a fog for a moment. “My name's Chance. And I am very glad to meet you now.”

Kagayaki smiled a little wider, taking Chance's hand and giving it a warm shake. “Nice... meet you... Chance.” He'd said it right... he hoped. It sounded a little more like 'Shansh' than what the guy had said, but, whatever. The guy should know his own name, after all. Kagayaki thought for a moment whether to give his family name or given name. Well, this was America, wasn't it? If he wanted people to call him by his given name, then he'd have to introduce himself by it. They'd never know the difference, right? “Kagayaki,” he said, withdrawing his hand. “My name... is Kagayaki.”

'And I was just like you once. But no one really cares about me anymore. I gave up I guess.'

~~~~~

Chance Savege

The guy kept smiling at him, even when Chance obviously gave him a once-over. “You're taken already, right?” Asian boy's mouth dropped open in shock. Chance kind of liked the moment of clarity there. No hiding the shock and wonder, now. “No matter. I can't possibly expect to win 'em all.”After a few moments, he held out a hand to the Asian guy, “My name's Chance. And I am very glad to meet you now.”

It took him long enough, but the guy responded with a warm smile and a nice handshake. Not very firm, but who was he to judge? “Nice... meet you... Chance.” Chance beamed at the mushy pronunciation. Because accents were the bomb, of course. As was the hesitant tone that he spoke with, as though he was afraid of insulting someone by what he was about to say. “Kagayaki,” he said at last, withdrawing his hand. “My name... is Kagayaki.”

“Man, I just can't get over how cute you are!” he breathed mostly to himself. Then he bounced a little in his seat, readjusting not only in his chair, but to the new guy. “So, you have to tell me. Where are you from? Huh? China or something like that? And why are you here? Especially looking as sad as you do!”

~~~~~

Kagayaki Aidou

“My name's Chance. And I am very glad to meet you now.”

Kagayaki hesitated at first, but then returned with a smile and a handshake. This could present itself as a fun friendship, from the right perspective. And Kagayaki was bound and determined to get this perspective back, because life just wasn't the same without it. “Nice... meet you... Chance.” That made Chance smile, which was weird but made Kagayaki keep smiling. “Kagayaki,” he announced after a few moments, pulling his hand back to his cup. “My name... is Kagayaki.”

Chancesan muttered something else to himself, happily as before, bouncing and shifting like a kid on sugar. Which he probably was. The coffee was starting to get to Kagayaki too; his hand was starting to shake. He liked the feeling of a sugar rush. It was fun. “So, you have to tell me. Where are you from? Huh? China or something like that? And why are you here? Especially looking as sad as you do!”

With a laugh, Kagayaki shook his head. 'You're close... sort of. Not really. Silly ganjin.' “Nippon,” he softly – but still proudly – corrected. “Japan.” 'As for your other question, how does 'I cheated on my girlfriend with my ex that never loved me and I don't even love anymore, I haven't told my girl because I'm afraid of what she'll do, I'm also ashamed because she just got through being taken advantage of by her mother's jerk-off of a boyfriend, and I'm sad because I can't kiss her because of that guy. She's afraid of me. I hate that. And, on top of it all, I might as well just say that my friend was crazy for suspecting me of wanting to steal his girlfriend, because the real problem is, I think I might have feelings for him. So, yeah, I think you'd look kind of sad too.' But he couldn't say that, even if he felt like he could trust this guy. He seemed absolutely harmless, if anything he just wanted someone to talk to. And, since Kagayaki's problem was mostly with love – and dealing with love – , he thought that Chancesan might be able to get him ahead of the game.

After all, who would know better about being true to feelings than someone who could admit that they loved differently than most of the world?

He took a drink of his coffee then heaved a sigh. “I am... in trouble,” he said with a laugh. “Very-very trouble, yah.” Kagayaki met Chancesan's eyes. “You... you sure, you wanna hear, listen why?”

'Because I'm tired of telling my feelings to a brick wall. You don't seem like that.'


~~~~~

Chance Savege

“Nice... meet you... Chance.” Chance grinned at the sentence, chopped and heavily accented so that he was barely understandable. “Kagayaki,” Chanced arched an eyebrow. Beg pardon? “My name... is Kagayaki.”

Chance muttered under his breath, “Man, I just can't get over how cute you are!”By this time he was bouncing in his seat, unable to hide his excitement. “So, you have to tell me. Where are you from? Huh? China or something like that? And why are you here? Especially looking as sad as you do!”

With a laugh, Kagayaki shook his head “Nippon,” Chance sent him a look of complete obliviousness, quite sure he had heard that word completely wrong. He must've said it in his language....okay! That works better... Makes more sense to me that way. Then he received a single-word explanation. “Japan.”

“O-oh!” Chance beamed with his new understanding. “Japan! I like Japan. But aren't you guys, like, super-happy all the time?” He leaned forward, smirking, “I watch Ninja Warrior. Oh yeah!” He gave the air a little victory-punch, then settled down a little. “So what's wrong? Something happen? Why are you here in America?”

Kaga-whatever took a drink of his coffee then heaved a sigh before bothering to answer. He the perfect representation of teen angst at that moment, almost movie-fied with melancholy. Why so sad, emo-boy? “I am... in trouble,” he said with a laugh. That was weird. It wasn't very often you heard someone say, 'I'm in trouble' as they laughed. “Very-very trouble, yah.” He looked up to meet Chance's eyes, which were sparkling with amusement, despite his sympathy for whatever-it-was that was the problem. “You... you sure, you wanna hear, listen why?”

Chance nodded with enthusiasm, “Yes! I do! Seriously!” He set both elbows on the table, his palms upturned to hold up his chin as he watched Kaga-whatever's face. He knew he'd find it hard to concentrate with such a round face looking so solemn and serious, but he could definitely try.

~~~~~

Kagayaki Aidou

Chancesan asked him where he was from. “Nippon,” Kagayaki said, without thinking. Then he corrected himself, managing to stay calm. “Japan.”

“O-oh!” Chancesan seemed pleased to say the least. “Japan! I like Japan. But aren't you guys, like, super-happy all the time?” His new friend leaned forwards conspiratorially, a movement which Kagayaki found himself automatically mirroring. “I watch Ninja Warrior. Oh yeah!”

Kagayaki laughed ironically, one eyebrow raised and his smile crooked. 'Because, in America, our culture is nothing but ninja, samurai, and mangaka, ne? And, if you like Ninja Warrior, you should watch our game shows. They're strangely alike.'

“So what's wrong?” Chancesan continued back to the conversation, not skipping a beat. Something happen? Why are you here in America?”

Kagayaki wasn't sure where to start, or how to say it. Not just the right words... he had a hard time placing what kind of sentences to use. English was confusing sometimes.

Okay, most times. But that wasn't the point.

“I am... in trouble,” he began, punctuating that with a laugh per his usual 'making-it-sound-better-than-it-is' manner. “Very-very trouble, yah.” Kagayaki managed to meet his new friend's eyes – something he wouldn't have been able to do before coming to America; this place was changing him, wasn't it? - and earn a comforting smile. 'That's how I can do it. That's how people in America can do it. People here are so open sometimes, so ready to let me shine. To let me talk. To let me be honest. I like it, though it often frightens me with how it makes me feel so... individual... but that doesn't matter. They also make sure I don't feel like I'm alone too.' “You... you sure, you wanna hear, listen why?”

Chancesan nodded very earnestly. “Yes! I do! Seriously!” he exclaimed, laying his head comfortably into his palms to listen.

Now he was back to the fact he didn't know what to say. Taking a deep breath, Kagayaki told himself it was better to take it slow and say the right thing – and risk Chancesan getting bored – than to say it too fast and say something entirely different. “I... I come to, America, a... a longed time 'go,” he finally said as a sigh, staring down into his coffee cup – which was now nearly empty. “Been trying, help my tomadachi... friend... Yukito.” He glanced up to make sure that he hadn't lost his audience. “He... he been having... baded time... wi' he... his... girlfriend.” Kagayaki nodded. Yeah, that sounded right. “'ey... 'ey... ah...” He laughed. “How say again?” Squinting his eyes, he thought for a moment. “Ah, 'broke up'.” The term sounded strange from his lips, but he was sure it was right. “Demo, 'ey... 'ey been very-very good... for, each o'er. And so... I... I camed here, help. Help 'em. 'ey, 'ey better. Now.” He smiled. “Yah. Helped 'em. 'en...” The thought of what he now had to explain made him sigh again. “I meeted, Cassiechan.” Her name was merely breathed. Oh, he loved her so much. He'd thought she'd felt the same, but... things were changing now. He wasn't sure where they stood anymore. “I... I love her... I love her lots. Demo, she...” He took a deep breath. “She been... hurting, and I... I never... never see her, no more. Hurting... hurting me too.” He inhaled slowly, then exhaled. “And I... I having... 'nother thing... Been... hard say.” Kagayaki met Chancesan's eyes again. “You... you know how feel, yah? You do.” 'I know you do; they way you talk, the way you smile... You understand.'

~~~~~

Chance Savege

“So what's wrong? Something happen? Why are you here in America?” The cute Asian had sparked his curiosity. Even if the tons of hesitations were a little grating on his nerves. Unfortunately, it just added to his charm, which made Chance sigh, resting his chin in one hand.

“I am... in trouble,” he began, punctuating that with a laugh. What a strange response to saying, 'I am in trouble'. A laugh. “Very-very trouble, yah.” Chance snorted with amusement at the word usage, just as the guy raised his eyes to meet Chance's, utter seriousness behind the soft smile. Chance's own smirk died away, and he tried to pay attention. “You... you sure, you wanna hear, listen why?”

Chancesan nodded very earnestly. “Yes! I do! Seriously!” he exclaimed, laying his head comfortably into his palms to listen.

Taking a deep breath, Kagayaki started – at last! - to explain, “I... I come to, America, a... a longed time 'go,” Once again Chance fought giggles. He made himself sound like some 800 year old immigrant when he said it like that. Or maybe an Ent. Luckily, he wasn't being watched, his companion staring into his cup soberly. “Been trying, help my tomadachi... friend... Yukito.” He glanced up to make sure that he hadn't lost his audience.

“Tomadashi...” Chance mumured uncertaintly, mimicking like a child.

“He... he been having... baded time... wi' he... his... girlfriend.” Kagayaki nodded, as though in agreement to some thought.

“'ey... 'ey... ah...” He laughed. Cute.

“How say again?” Very cute.

Squinting his eyes, he thought for a moment. Chance would have been more helpful if he hadn't been distracted by the look on his face. He stared, caught up watching and listening and still as stone. Crap...he's racking up points like he was born for this.. “Ah, 'broke up'. Demo, 'ey... 'ey been very-very good... for, each o'er. And so... I... I camed here, help. Help 'em. 'ey, 'ey better. Now.” He smiled. “Yah. Helped 'em. 'en... I meeted, Cassiechan.” Her name was merely breathed. Making Chance beam. “I... I love her... I love her lots. Demo, she... She been... hurting, and I... I never... never see her, no more. Hurting... hurting me too.” He inhaled slowly, then exhaled, making Chance wonder what great weight was pressing against his chest. “And I... I having... 'nother thing... Been... hard say.” Kagayaki met his eyes. “You... you know how feel, yah? You do.”

“Um...” Chance had lost him at some point, “Feel about what, exactly? Cassie, or your friends, or what?” He smiled, then shrugged helplessly, “Sorry, my head needs a refill. Ran out of air.” He circled one finger around his ear, indicating 'crazy'. “I'm sure whatever it is, though, it can't be too weird or, you know, something someone hasn't already felt before. So I guess I do know how you feel,” he smiled, “Even if I don't know what it is!” He laughed, finding that somehow funny.

~~~~~

Kagayaki Aidou

“I... I come to, America, a... a longed time 'go,” Kagayaki finally began, looking quietly into his cup. “Been trying, help my tomadachi... friend... Yukito.” He glanced up to make sure that he hadn't lost his audience.

“Tomadashi...” Chance-san muttered like he was in a trance. So Kagayaki continued.

“He... he been having... baded time... wi' he... his... girlfriend. ey... 'ey... ah... How say again?” He wasn't sure how to continue, so he paused. Chance-san seemed dazed. “Ah, 'broke up'. Demo, 'ey... 'ey been very-very good... for, each o'er. And so... I... I camed here, help. Help 'em. 'ey, 'ey better. Now.” He smiled; yes they were. “Yah. Helped 'em. 'en... I meeted, Cassiechan.” The way he said something must have caught his new friend's attention, because he looked dazed still. “I... I love her... I love her lots. Demo, she... She been... hurting, and I... I never... never see her, no more. Hurting... hurting me too.” Kagayaki had to breathe in deep then sigh. It was still hard to talk about. “And I... I having... 'nother thing... Been... hard say.” Kagayaki met Chance-san's eyes. “You... you know how feel, yah? You do.”

'At least, I hope you do. The look on your face says otherwise.'

“Feel about what, exactly? Cassie, or your friends, or what?” Chance-san sent him a confused look and a shrug. “Sorry, my head needs a refill. Ran out of air.” He made a weird gesture to say he'd gone crazy, which made Kagayaki smile a little. 'I know how you feel.' “I'm sure whatever it is, though, it can't be too weird or, you know, something someone hasn't already felt before. So I guess I do know how you feel,” Chance-san paused to smile. “Even if I don't know what it is!” Chance-san laughed. That made Kagayaki laugh.

“You bein'... you bein' silly!” Kagayaki exclaimed, smiling. “Chance-san, I be meanin'...” He gestured between himself and Chance-san. “You... you know how feel. Like... bein'...” He swallowed, trying not to make this sound like a bad thing. “Bein'... okay... wi'... who you is.”

He sighed. “Maybe... I be tellin' you... wha' is baded, an' t'en, you uns'and.”

~~~~~

Chance Savege

“Yah. Helped 'em. 'en... I meeted, Cassiechan. I... I love her... I love her lots. Demo, she... She been... hurting, and I... I never... never see her, no more. Hurting... hurting me too. And I... I having... 'nother thing... Been... hard say. You... you know how feel, yah? You do.”


“Um... feel about what, exactly? Cassie, or your friends, or what?” Chance sent him a confused look and a shrug. “Sorry, my head needs a refill. Ran out of air.” He twirled his finger in a circular motion around his ear as if to say he'd gone crazy, which made Kagayaki smile a little. “I'm sure whatever it is, though, it can't be too weird or, you know, something someone hasn't already felt before. So I guess I do know how you feel,” Chance paused to smile. “Even if I don't know what it is!” He laughed at that, findint it somehow amusing. Apparently, Kagayaki agreed, since he was laughing, too.

“You bein'... you bein' silly!” Kagayaki exclaimed, smiling. “Chance-san, I be meanin'...” He gestured between himself and Chance. “You... you know how feel. Like... bein'... Bein'... okay... wi'... who you is.”

There was a long, stupid moment were Chance was staring blankly at Kagayaki. Then, a surprised look, and a amusment sparkled in his eyes, “O-oh...I get you now.” Chance laughed a little, “You're thinking of switching teams!” For some reason, Chance found this both encouraging and disappointing. Sure, Kagayaki sounded like he'd been through a lot, especially with this 'Cassie' girl. But a minute, he'd sounded totally into her. Chance couldn't help but feel sorry at any time when he heard of a relationship coming to end. Save the dangerous ones, that is.

He sighed, probably glad Chance had at last clued in. “Maybe... I be tellin' you... wha' is baded, an' t'en, you uns'and.”

“Sure I do!” Chance reassured him, patting him on the shoulder, “Though as long as we're being honest, I gotta say boys and girls float my boat! Let's just say I see beauty in all things.” He sat back with a smug look, as though pleased with himself. “So who've you had your eye on lately?” After a moment of stillness, Chanced jerked into a dramatic pose, insinuating that he had been the guy Kagayaki had his eye out for. He kept the solemn pose for only a second or two, before bursting out laughing, gesturing flippantly to let Kagayaki know he was just having fun. “Okay, getting a little weird here...back to reality. Wee-oo.. Wee-oo...”” He mimicked a siren as he sat up a little straighter, still with that boyish smile, “Have you told him yet?”

To be cont'd

[More than Music]

OOC: Hm... I shall try this again. >< I'm gonna change the dialogue a little... CAUSE IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.
BIC:

Kagayaki Aidou

“I'm sure whatever it is, though, it can't be too weird or, you know, something someone hasn't already felt before. So I guess I do know how you feel... Even if I don't know what it is!” They both laughed for a moment.

“You bein'... you bein' silly!” Kagayaki told him with a smile. This was really having a good effect on him. “Chance-san, I mean...” He tried gesturing between the two of them, not sure how to say what he needed to get out. “You know... how feel. Like... bein' okay... wi-with... who you is.”

For a few minutes, they were stuck in that awkward silence that made Kagayaki want to shrink small enough to hide behind his coffee cup. But he couldn't, so he just sipped at his coffee and wished it wasn't almost gone. That was when Chance-san began to understand. “O-oh...I get you now," he laughed. Kagayaki smiled a little, though he wasn't sure this was a good thing. “You're thinking of switching teams!”

Kagayaki sent him a little look. What did that mean? He sighed, a little happy his new friend seemed to be understanding and a little sad he didn't understand his friend. "Maybe... I tell you... what is bad, and you... un'stand.”

“Sure I do!” Chance-san gave him a pat on the shoulder, which made Kagayaki pout his lips a little in mock-depression. “Though as long as we're being honest, I gotta say boys and girls float my boat! Let's just say I see beauty in all things.”

Kagayaki raised an eyebrow. "Eh?" He couldn't think of what else to say.

“So who've you had your eye on lately?” Chance-san quickly went on to ask, posing dramatically. They both burst into laughter after a few moments. This...this felt good. To laugh again, to smile again. It was almost like falling in love with Cassie all over again, except... No, it just wasn't the same. There was no one else who could ever be quite like Cassie-chan had been before. Now she was gone, and she would never be the same, and... he didn't know what he felt about Yukito-kun. He was just... confused. And this felt good. “Okay, getting a little weird here...back to reality. Wee-oo.. Wee-oo...” Kagayaki smiled, leaning down to lay his head on table.

"You are... silly..." he muttered, closing his eyes.

That was when Chance-san sat up straighter, making Kagayaki jump to attention. Then he asked the one question Kagayaki had been hoping he wouldn't get to for a while. “Have you told him yet?”

He swallowed hard, laying his head back on the table. "No..." Peering up at his new friend with fear in his eyes, Kagayaki shook his head. "No, he... he would... hate me, Chance-san. He would hate me..."

[Elda Forever]

OOC: <_< Sorry, sensei. It won't be much longer now and this stuff'll pass... I promise. BIC:

Chance Savege

It was like a dramatic pause, like someone had hit a button and they were stuck just staring at each other, as Chance's slow mind finally clicked into understanding. “O-oh...I get you now," he laughed. Kagayaki smiled uncertainly. “You're thinking of switching teams!”

Kagayaki just looked at him. It made Chance giggle and let him know he was right. "Maybe... I tell you... what is bad, and you... un'stand.”

“Sure I do!” Chance gave him a pat on the shoulder, which made Kagayaki pout his lips a little in mock-depression. “Though as long as we're being honest, I gotta say boys and girls float my boat! Let's just say I see beauty in all things.”

Kagayaki raised an eyebrow. "Eh?" Chance laughed harder. It was such a cute, oblivious expression.

“So who've you had your eye on lately?” He asked, pausing a moment before humorously jumping into a pose for 'better viewing'. They both burst into laughter after a few moments. Chance shook his head at the action while the laughter started to subside. “Okay, getting a little weird here...back to reality. Wee-oo.. Wee-oo...” Kagayaki smiled, leaning down to lay his head on table. Chance arched one blond eyebrow down at the young man.

"You are... silly..." he muttered, closing his eyes.

"I'm silly?" he shook his head, sat up straight, and bluntly asked, “Have you told him yet?”

Kagayaki swallowed heavily, laying back on the table. "No..." he peered up at Chance with a sad, heavy-hearted expression in his eyes that tugged at Chance's heartstrings. The smile of a few moments ago had vanished from his face. As Kagayaki shook his head in the negative, Chance released a slow breath. "No, he... he would... hate me, Chance-san. He would hate me..."

At first, Chance didn't move. Then, he laid his head on the table beside Kagayaki, facing him while cradling his head in the crook of his arm. Sadly, and with understanding, he stared into Kagayaki's face.

"I know what you mean, Kayak. I really do. But it's not really so different, telling a girl and telling a boy. If it's how you really feel, it's scary anyways." His lips curved into a deeper frown, and he reached out to take Kagayaki's hand. Why did his thoughts flicker over towards his dad now, of all times? He knew his dad would hate this. He'd hate sitting and talking about things anyways. It didn't matter what it was, it always turned into an argument. Chance felt tired every time he thought about it. He wondered if Kagayaki had someone to talk to. Besides a stranger who was hanging out at a coffee shop when he didn't even like coffee, merely because he was avoiding going over to the auto shop to see his dad. If he went home, there was a likelihood his dad would come home before his mom did, and then he'd be caught alone with the man.

Chance let out a sigh. It wasn't worth fussing over. It was how it was, so how did thinking about it make it any better? Looking up at Kagayaki again, Chance offered a little smile. "Do you ever think about kissing him? That's fun. Have you kissed anyone like that yet?"

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

“So who've you had your eye on lately?” Chance posed funny, so they both laughed. “Okay, getting a little weird here...back to reality. Wee-oo.. Wee-oo...” Kagayaki smiled and laid his head on the table, the cool sensation calming him down a bit.

"You are... silly..."

"I'm silly? Have you told him yet?”

He'd been hoping that question wouldn't come up. Swallowing, he gathered up his courage. "No..." He looked up at his friend for a moment. "No, he... he would... hate me, Chance-san. He would hate me..."

Chance-san laid his head down, looking like he understood. "I know what you mean, Kayak."

Kagayaki laughed a little. "Kagayaki," he whispered.

"I really do. But it's not really so different, telling a girl and telling a boy. If it's how you really feel, it's scary anyways."

He frowned. "T... Telling girls... feels good... Thinking bout... girls... feels good... This..." He looked away, blinking to keep himself together. "No feels good."

Slowly, Chance-san took his hand. It felt good to have someone trying to comfort him, someone who wasn't afraid to touch him. Kagayaki tightened his hand a little around Chance-san's, wanting to keep the feeling that someone -- anyone -- was close and cared. Chance-san smiled at him, and he smiled back.

"Do you ever think about kissing him? That's fun. Have you kissed anyone like that yet?"

Kagayaki sat up a little, a confused look on his face. "Is... is... not same?" He pouted his lips. "I like... kisses..." Slowly, he smiled, feeling a bit ashamed to admit it aloud. "I like... touches..." His eyes fell to where Chance-san was holding his hand. "Just... little touches... They feel so..." He sighed deeply. "Good."