...in Heavan and Earth... [open]

[Jessica Pruitte]

Happier than she had any right to be, certainly after the screaming-down she'd gotten from her father because of the state of his car. His brand-new car.

Oops, had she forgotten the top during the rain? Her bad.

The usually surly Jessica had far too many smiles. In truth it was making her cheeks hurt, but what did she care? It was a good day. Her court date had been canceled, thanks to her parent's pull, she'd told Fel the whole truth about who she was and he hadn't batted an eye. The psychotic duo hadn't been able to convince him that she was trouble, and she still HAD the friendship that she hadn't quite allowed to grow. It had latched on though, and Jess was grateful for it.

It was funny how she didn't feel so alone anymore. Interesting what a single friend could do to change things dramatically.

The day had started out with a bark of laughter, seeing a car perched on the school's roof. HOW it had gotten there was anyone's guess, but it was there and the principal was so SO not happy about it. His eyes had swiveled towards her for a minute, but then he shook his head. Apparently getting into fist-fights with students automatically made her a suspect, but since she wasn't a prankster it had been dismissed.

There was nothing overly special about the day (other than the car) but the teenaged thief's mood was just that much better. It didn't feel as though anything could bring her down off her natural high.

Nothing. And she dared it to try.

[felipe]

Morning classes had been... tedious. For some reason Felipe Luis Vila Nova felt restless. Even more restless than usual. He spent most of the morning gazing out of the classroom window. It didn't matter which classroom... it was the same wherever he was. He'd lost count of the times a tutor had asked him if he was listening. Each time the Brazilian boy had nodded and focussed on the lesson... for all of the next three minutes. After that he was back to wndow gazing.

At last the lunch bell rang out and that DID get his attention. He was first out of the classroom and bolted to his locker. Books were thrown inside and he grabbed the packed lunch his mother had given him earlier that morning.

Within the span of thirty seconds he'd made it outside. A whole hour of freedom.

Bliss.

He dropped down onto a bench and lifted his face to the sun's weak rays. How he missed the warmth of sao Paolo but he'd been assured it would soon get warmer here as well. He could only hope.

"Hey, Jessica!" he called out, recognising a very familiar figure walking out of the main building. He waved his hand wildly above his head, not daring to abandon the bench as someone would have grabbed it as soon as he got to his feet.

[Jessica Pruitte]

When the voice called her name out, Jess's smile widened and she followed the signal of the waving arm to flop onto the bench next to Fel. She wasn't doubtful over his friendship anymore.

Today.

He'd heard the worst about her, from her, and all he'd had to say was that she hadn't deserved to have what happened happen. He was HER friend. Through and through. And it felt good. Better than good. She felt... validated in a way. Like she was really there and not just smoke being blown about on the wind.

“Ooh, lunch!” Having forgone going to the cafeteria (the staff there was still, she was sure, on her parents pay roll and spent every waking moment trying to create the most vile of food to shove at her) she had no noms for herself.

Peeking inside the packed lunch, Jess blinked then looked back at her friend. “What is it?” Even though it didn't matter, she's head out somewhere after school and grab something. Or make something at home while listening to her dad rant about the rain damaged car. With just a little bit of glee.

But only a little.

Okay, maybe a lot.

[felipe]

"Olá!" greeted Felipe with a bright smile. He moved over to allow some space for Jessica to sit and she did so before peering at the packed lunch his mother had made for him earlier that morning. "I'm not exactly sure what it is," he admitted. "Some sort of 'salgadinhos'... aah small savoury things we have as appetizers," he tried to explain. "This one here is probably coxinhas. Sort of a dough made with yucca and chicken broth. This one looks like bolinhos de peixe... balls of fish. Well, not like its testicles," he quickly clarified with a laugh. "Just ball shaped... you know what I mean? This one is an empanada but I don't know what is inside. We can break it open to see if you feel brave enough to share my lunch." A sort of dare? Perhaps but a well meant one as Jessica didn't seem to have brought anything of her own.

"And if you eat all your salgadinhos I might let you have half of this," he said in conclusion, tapping another seperately wrapped item.

Jessica poked it in open curiosity and he slapped the back of her hand. "Nuh huh... savouries forst and then we can share this." He knew what was inside. Brigadeiro... Chocolate fudge. "So how did your father take his care having been turned into a submarine? Was he mad?" Felipe felt sure the answer to that would be a resounding 'hell yeah!'.

[Jessica Pruitte]

One of the best parts about being Fel's friend. The accent. Jess got to listen to it whenever she friggin' wanted to. The way the words, both English and whatever language (Portuguese? She thought so, but wasn't sure) he spoke, just rolled off his tongue.

Even “testicles” which made Jess laugh. Mostly because it just wasn't a word heard in every day conversation.

“You know, all of that sounds very... different. Tasty, mind. But different.” Certainly nothing she'd ever eat before she had met Fel. He brought out a more adventurous side. Not that she hadn't had plenty of adventures all her own while she was on her own, but this was different. This was with food. Jess was a I know what I like and I'mma stick with it kind of eater.

Or was.

“Hey!” Her hand jerked back as Fel smacked it and she kicked his ankle in response. “It's not nice to hit.” With an exaggerated sigh, Jess slumped “Fiiiiiiine. Real food first.”

She'd share, but only because she wanted the sweets he'd hidden away from her with his thwak.

“Oh man, he was furious. It was great!” Laughing Jess popped a morsel into her mouth and chewed with a wicked glee. Once she was done she continued, “He swore up an down he was going to disown me, and I pointed out he'd had his chance. Oh it was great. Next time I'll have to have you over so you can watch. He turns the most intense shades of red and purple.”

Maybe it was wrong how much Jess enjoyed tormenting her parents, but they did the same to her. Consciously or not.

“How'd your Sunday go?” Had he come up with any plots on how to get Patch and Evan back, she wondered. Had he gone through with it? Would he?

[felipe]

"It is," he concurred and in reference to Jessica's comments about the packed lunch. "Both different as well as tasty. well..." Felipe reconsidered. "Perhaps not so different for me, huh?" he added with a wink. He grunted when she kicked his shin in retalliation for his slap on the back of her hand.

"Your sigh of annoyance needs more work, princesa pequena," he said with a laugh. They began to eat while Jessica told Felipe how her father had reacted to the appearance of his car.

"You like it when he gets angry?" he asked in surprise. "I'm not so sure I feel the same way if my father is pissed at me!" Felipe tried to avoid that if at all possible.

"As for me... I had a quiet Sunday. I took Rufio and Ana Izabel for a walk..." Felipe paused, again considering his remark. "I think I just made my sister sound like a dog. Oh well... Anyway, we went for a walk along the beach and saw no one I knew at all. It was most disappointing and Ana was equally annoying. She keeps insisting on calling me 'Filly'," he revealed with a dark scowl.

"Did you see the car on the roof this morning? Someone said it was the Pricipal's and that our two favourite boys were responsible. I hope they get caught and thrown out of school... filhos da puta." The curse was almost spat out, so angry was Felipe at the pair in question. He shot Jessica a sideways glance, glad she didn't speak Portuguese right now.