Catching Up [Sloane, tags: Tyler]

[Sloane Taylor]

As she moved towards the football field to run, Sloane fingered the ring around her neck and wondered what Nolan was doing that day. After the talk with Bree the other day, Sloane couldn't stop thinking about the boy. Or May for that matter. She knew she had to talk to them sooner or later. This thing would turn way too complicated if she didn't. Why she cared, she wasn't sure. Somehow she couldn't help but wonder if this was what the Grinch had to go through before he gave Christmas back to the Whos. Was she really beginning to grow a conscience?

Running usually helped her clear her head and that was why she was on the way to the track.

Throwing her bag on the bench, she didn't even look around to see if anyone was there before she took off her black top and jeans to reveal her pink and gray sports bra and shorts. She hastily folded her clothes and stacked them on the bag. Sloane's eyes caught the ring and she stared at it a bit before pulling it over her head and dropping it on top of her clothes. Kicking off her sneakers, she took out her track shoes from her bag before putting them on.

She warmed up only for a few minutes before grabbing her MP3 player, cranking it up to the highest volume. Sticking the earphones in her ears and clipping the device to the waistband of her elastic shorts, she began to run.

Slowly at first but by the first hundred metres, she picked up her pace and soon enough, she was lost in her own world, oblivious to anything and everything around her as the addictive sounds of AC/DC rocked in her ears. She pulled at the band that held her hair together as the lyrics to "Highway to Hell" left her lips.

[Tyler Durnham]

Just because he happened to be born with great looks, and raised to be quite charming, Tyler didn’t take it to mean he could let everything else in his life slip. He took great care of his appearance, of his body. As an athlete this was important, to be as in great physical condition as possible. His teammates depended on this after all, he wouldn’t let them down. And the fact that many, many ladies took pleasure in all his hard work didn’t hurt in the slightest.

So with that in mind, he decided to spend his lunch working out. And it was a great way to get some time to himself, sort out his thoughts. He found he had a lot more confusing and frustrating things to think about lately, not enjoy that in the slightest. He already missed the good old days of only having to worry about which girl he should bed that night. But working out, it was the perfect way to clear things up, and his mind.

He only gave a quick session in the gym before deciding to head outside. A run would be ideal, plus, give any admirers hanging around something good to look at. He was expecting someone to beat him to it, and especially didn’t expect that someone to be Sloane. She looked good when she ran though, he couldn’t deny that.

Taking a seat on a nearby bench, he looked idly at her clothes, until something shiny caught his eyes. Picking up the ring, he studied it until an amused grin spread across his lips. He knew exactly what it was. And it was not something he expected Sloane to ever have in her possession. Oh, this was very, very entertaining.

[Sloane Taylor]

A few laps got Sloane a little dehydrated and a sheen of perspiration had built up on her forehead, chest and a little around her neck. She was a ways a way from where she had placed her things so she forced herself to cover the distance. Her hair was tied back up in a tight ponytail as her legs burned. Taking her earpiece out and letting it hang around her shoulders, her eyes trained on the spot she was heading and saw someone sitting there. A male figure that probably populated at least half of the girls' in Gould and SIlver's minds at night. And in the day no doubt.

Tyler Durnham had been someone she had forced herself to avoid the moment she found out that she was going in a serious direction with Nolan. But there he was, sitting by her things, holding up the one thing she had been trying to hide from him with a smile she was almost afraid of at that moment.

Her steps faltered for a bit before she manned up and took the last few steps to him. "Tyler..." she started before rummaging through her bag for the bottle of water she had packed in earlier that day. She avoided eye contact as her heart began to race and she knew it wasn't because she had just run the field three times that afternoon.

[Tyler Durnham]

“I was going to go for a run...” he started to explain after a few more moments, “But then I saw this.” He held up the ring now, before holding it back out for her to take. “And I just had to give my congratulations. Nolan’s ring, I presume? Well, your ring now.” he chuckled, his eyes locked on Sloane now.

“You were the last person I would have thought ever to go soft.” He even sounded just the slightest bit disappointed at this. And really he was. They were friends, and rivals for the affections of beautiful girls, and he enjoyed her company thoroughly in this way. He couldn’t imagine wanting to hang around with her as much if her and Nolan constantly hung off each other, whispering sweet nothings and whatever it was a couple did.

He and Maggy were completely different of course. He didn’t belong to the girl, nor she him, not the way he supposed Nolan thought of Sloane. After all, he doubted the guy would go through with such a gesture of giving the girl his ring if their relationship was casual as well. What happened to Sloane? So disappointing.

“So, are you really going through with the boring and dating this Nolan? Or is it just a game?” Tyler really hoped the later was the case. After all, he once considered Sloane and himself alike. And if this happened to her, and his father, it was possible the monogamous bug would hit him. God, that would be awful, being all lovey dovey over one girl. Over Maggy. He wondered how that was possible, to be fulfilled with that.

“Is Nolan going to find out soon enough that you don’t do relationships, and end up broken hearted like the rest of those that came before him?” She was his friend though, and even if this was weird, he still took care of his friends. “Well, if this is serious, I suppose I should meet him then, get to know him more. But, really Sloane, dating? And wearing his ring?” he laughed.

[Sloane Taylor]

So him holding up the ring wasn't her imagination. Well, she was screwed. But she was not about to let Tyler find that out. Grinning nonchalantly, she took the ring without breaking the eye contact between them. "Thank you for the well wish, Tyler. You've always been so kind." She smirked before sitting beside him and grabbed a bottle of water, drinking it to pass the time.

"I haven't gone soft...well I'm soft in a lot of areas," she turned to look at her friend with a raised eyebrow and kept her smirk up even though her heart was hammering in her chest. "Well my abs are pretty hard if you want to touch." She chuckled before pushing her fringe back off her forehead.

"Why do you think I'm stupid enough to settle down? This ring isn't tying me down, Ty. I'm Sloane Taylor. Nothing ties me down. He's another notch on my post and when I'm done with him, this ring is gone." The smirk was even more prominent even though now her heart kind of ached. It no longer beat hard. It just squeezed too hard in its hollow cage.

"But I need your help, love. I'm actually also sort of involved with Maysan Paghishetsi. The problem is, the last time I was involved with two people I kind of went way over my head. So...what do you think? I'm sure you have advice for me, don't you?"

Sloane crossed one leg over the bench so she was facing Tyler. She held the ring up by it's chain. "This is not a pass for you to tease me, Durnham. You just need to help me get rid of it in the nicest way possible." She shrugged. "Ahlstrom isn't so bad really...he's pretty...good." She said, remembering their night alone.

[Tyler Durnham]

“A touch? Well, that does sound rather appealing.” Tyler smirked back, letting his eyes roam over Sloane. She was what could considered the athletic type, and he didn’t mind that too much, as long as the girl still took some pride in her appearance, remained looking like a girl. Tomboys, those overly muscled, anything of the kind just did not appeal. Sloane, however, was very, very appealing, and she knew it too.

There was just a little something off about that, her explanation. She could have just refused the ring in the first place, or now that she did have it, she certainly didn’t need to go wearing it. He could understand holding onto it for appearances sake, she obviously hadn’t quite finished with her plans for the boy yet, but Nolan wasn’t anywhere around, there was no need to keep the cheap metal nearby.

“Sure, just another notch.” Tyler agreed, but the smirk that lit his face as he did showed that perhaps his agreement wasn’t whole hearted. She was a good actress, but she couldn’t fool a fellow player that easily. There was something she wasn’t revealing to him, and though he couldn’t say he was surprised by this, it was still just a little grating. He liked to know.

But perhaps he was wrong. She couldn’t be all too serious about Nolan if she also had May on the side. He wasn’t an expert in relationships, obviously, but dating more than one person seemed the basis of a casual relationship, apparently not what Nolan thought he had with Sloane. Well, that was fun, Tyler would very much like to be there when it all blew up in his face. That’s what people got for trying to tame those like him and Sloane, hurt. At least Maggy had much more sense than to try and force him into something that was most unlike him.

“Yes, I remember you telling me that story. It was funny, but yes, I can see why you’re not keen on a repeat. Odd though, the last time I was involved with two girls, it was very satisfactory for us all.” he chuckled. “Seems simple to me though, just enjoy it while it lasts. Since when have you been so concerned with the feelings of others? That’s not the Sloane I remember.”

Glancing at the ring in considerable distaste as she held it up, Tyler decided the best way to be rid of it was to just throw it away. But that wasn’t the kind of plan she was after. “You have to allow some teasing, you know we both enjoy a good tease.” he smiled, moving to rest a hand on her thigh. “Breaking up with a guy nicely, not exactly my forte but let’s see. Well, you could always just hand it back, say you’re not quite ready for the...implications of wearing his ring. Or you could actually have some fun, let him catch you with the lovely May, or some other guy. Maybe I could have a talk with him, see what I can do to have him be the one scared off, make him ask for the ring back.” That would be fun.

“But, even asking me for advice, are you sure you’re not going soft?” he teased lightly, his fingers moving over her skin. “And why should I be so happy to help, what do I get out of it?” Of course, he would have helped with no benefit to himself included, other than to watch Nolan’s poor little heart break.

[Sloane Taylor]

Tyler's eyes on her was unsettling but very familiar. She knew he was waiting for the moment she finally put out to him. It wasn't his fault, really. She understood why she was coveted among at least some of her schoolmates and maybe students from other schools. She was attainable in the most unattainable way and that was what made Tyler relentless in his quest to bag her.

She obviously wasn't going to back down anytime soon. Not when she had a sophomore to corrupt.

Sloane saw the look on Tyler's face as the cogs in his brains worked to read between the lines of her words. She knew he saw through her. She knew he was seeing the flaws in her explanation, the lilt in her tone, he was examining her with utmost scrutiny which was something she knew she would be doing if the tables were turned. His whatever with Maggy Veloz was questionable but Sloane hardly thought it was the same situation she was in so she couldn't say anything about it.

She hated that look on him. It indicated how weak her defenses were. If Tyler noticed it, she knew it was bad. Of course she couldn't show it right then. Ever, really. At least not to Tyler. Especially not to Tyler.

Wiping her face of expressions not pertaining to the topic, Sloane shrugged at Tyler's question about her concern for other's feelings. "The Sloane you remember isn't gone. Trust me. You're looking at her. But this is a Silver sophomore we're talking about. What if he bitched on me with his little sophomore buddies about me? I'd be a social pariah. Now what good would that do? It'll just make me undesirable to the boys and all the girls would automatically go to you or Jasper Hastings...I'm not going to let that happen."

She smirked and when Tyler's hand made its way to her thigh, the smirk seemed genuine. All thoughts of Nolan were banished as she was reminded how wanted she was by the boy sitting in front of her. She still had it. She knew she did.

His plan seemed valid enough but she could already picture it. If she gave the ring back, all Nolan's suspicions would be true. Then he'd break up with her, he'd spread a rumor, he'll have that vindictive look on his face and then what? What could she fall back on? Just because this was just high school, didn't mean she was going to condemn herself to social oblivion.

"You? Talk to Nolan Ahlstrom? Are you kidding me, Ty?" She chuckled and shook her head in amusement. "Although that could work...but what fun would that be?" She shrugged before shivering when Tyler's fingers worked its way up her bare hardened stomach.

"You mean my eternal gratitude isn't good enough?" She slid closer to Tyler, making his fingers move that much higher up her body. "What did you have in mind?" Her hand slid down to rest on Tyler's thigh, hitching up into the vee of his legs.

[Tyler Durnham]

He still had it, Tyler knew, seeing Sloane shiver at his touch alone. Sloane Taylor, not some innocent little sophomore who’d barely even kissed by a boy, let alone be more intimate than that. Sloane Taylor, who was the seducer herself, and so far refused his clear cut intentions he had to bed her. She was gorgeous, and would no doubt be very good indeed, but he wanted her so badly now because she had refused him so long. No one refused him. He knew it wouldn’t alter their relationship, the odd one he quite enjoyed, which is why he still continued to pursue her. And now his touch was making her shiver. Very promising.

She didn’t seem as taken with his ideas though, she was being very careful to avoid Nolan ending up pissed. Which was the fun part to Tyler, but he supposed whatever worked best for Sloane was fine by him. He wanted to worm himself more in her affections after all. He had managed to avoid that problem of talk himself, of girls bitching about him, no matter how many hearts he broke. Because no matter what was said about him, there was always another girl available to attack that immediately, leaving his reputation intact. He had always effort though to leave every girl he’d been with nothing but glowing thoughts of himself. It did good, for a guy’s ego.

“Well, talking to Nolan would be very fun for me.” he chuckled, that smile faltering only slightly when Sloane turned the tables on him, her fingers sliding very promisingly up over his leg, and further. Damn her, she knew the effect she had on him, he wasn’t going to let her gain the upper hand that easily. “Well, as much as I would enjoy your gratitude, I was thinking perhaps something a little more...tangible...” Tyler grinned, his own hand moving to rest lightly on her hip.

“Why don’t we have dinner tomorrow night? We can discuss ways for you to solve this little Nolan problem of yours.” he offered, planning on doing much more than that. He couldn't have his friend win after all, no one said no to Tyler forever.

[Sloane Taylor]

Looks like she was still the same old Sloane. Tyler had never failed to bring that out of her. So maybe it was a good thing that he found the ring. She didn't expect him to be so gracious about it but Tyler had always been classy. His subtlety was what attracted her to him in the first place.

The invitation to dinner made Sloane smirk. "That's just an excuse to be seen with me in public. It's okay you can admit it. No one's around." She paused for a bit, tilting her head slightly to the side to regard Tyler a bit. She smiled and got up to pack her things. The ring went straight to the bottom, followed by her clothes and then her bottle. Zipping up her bag, she grabbed her sneakers and slung her bag over one shoulder.

"Hey Durnham...you sure you're not growing soft?" She asked before sliding her hair band out of her hair once more to shake it out. Running her fingers to comb through it, her smirk returned. "First Bree...now me. You're helping us sort out our messes. And so far you haven't claimed anything from Bree. Not that I would allow you to of course but the principle of it...admit it, Ty. You do have a heart."

She bent down, letting her hair curtain one side of her face as she tilted Tyler's head up with one hand cupping his chin. "Thank you by the way. You're a good friend." She smiled genuinely, making it so she was going to press her lips on his but at the last minute, she turned his face with the hand chipping his chin and pressed her lips on his cheek for quite a bit before standing back up straight. "I'm inviting Bree over to my house tomorrow night for dinner. You should come. My parents will be out of town and my aunt and uncle both have dates. The boys have plans as always so I have the house to myself. I'll see you then." She raised one hand in a wave before walking off to the girl's locker room.

[ooc: wrap or tag to wrap?]

[Tyler Durnham]

It's a wrap!