Trying to do the right thing (Lana Tag OPEN)

[lanapatterson]

Lana was not sure why she was upset really. She and Ashley were defintely not a couple, hell she wasn't even sure if he even had any sort of feelings for her beyond friendship. Lana, however, did. Over the last few days, she had found that she rather liked the young man. It was just too bad for her that he was still carrying a brightly lit torch for his ex, and the mother of his son. How could Lana try to interfere with that? That would make her selfish, so she would no longer pursue the blond hottie. Her loss was Alex's gain.

After school found Lana curled up under a tree with her homework. She really didn't feel like going home, her parents would notice that she was unhappy and would ask what was wrong, and she'd have to hear it from them too. So she didn't bother. It just sucked that the first guy in a long time that had showed any possible interest in her, that hadn't seemed to be scared away by either her father or brother was completely unavailable.

She sighed, leaning her head back against the tree behind her. Maybe she should join a nunnery..

[Miquel Sanchez]

Miquel had to stay after school for a damn make up test cause he had missed a day of school. Not surprizing. Miquel missed school a lot at times to help his father out. He owed his father a lot. Miquel had been in a horrible place back in Miami and now things were looking up. He was a reformed gang member who worked at a youth center to help troubled teens like himself. Miquel wanted his younger brother to be proud of him.

Miquel had to make up for years of nothing but getting arrested and in trouble. He had been scared straight when his older brother died and the other one went to jail. It was a wake up call. Now he was in sunny Californa trying to be a better guy. After school Miquel decided he could use some excercise and went to the basket ball court. He started to shoot some hoops working up a sweat when he lost the ball and it rolled over to a tree near a beautiful woman.

Miquel smiled and picked up his towel to wipe his face off and his water bottle. He took a sip and headed over to the woman. He smiled down at her, "Hey." He said with a smile, "Sorry if the ball interrupted you. Its hard to play one on one and keep track of this thing." He told her, "It is good for something. Helps me meet pretty girls like yourself. I'm Miquel...." he extended his hand. "i am a bit new around here, so I am introducing myself to everyone I meet."

[lanapatterson]

Lana had been rather engrossed in the English assignment in her hands that she had not really noticed that there was a guy playing basketball on the court nearby. She was reading Romeo and Juliet, and despite many of the other students complaints about the hard to read Old English, Lana loved the story. A couple in love with each other despite being from opposing worlds and struggling to survive against their parents prejudices. Contrary to popular belief however, Shakespeare was not the original author of the story. She loved it, and part of her wondered if she would ever be lucky enough to have someone care that much for her. Probably not.

A basketball bounced and rolled over in her direction, hitting her in the knee. Looking at it puzzled for a moment, Lana looked up when the owner came over to get it. He was hard haired with dark eyes but a warm smile. "Hi.." She replied quietly. "The ball was fine..I didn't mind." She answered, giving him a small smile of her own, and then a blush crept across her cheeks at his compliment. "I hear puppies at the park are good for that as well.."

She gave him her hand, shaking it gently. "Lana..new?" She asked. "From where..my brother and I moved here a few months ago from D.C., so I know all about that.."

[Miquel Sanchez]

"I find puppies to take all the attention away, and I would rather have all your attention on me." Miquel was at his flirting best. Especially after he just had a work out, like from shooting hoops. Adrenaline was flowing through his veins. Why not put that to good use like flirting. He smiled at the beautiful blond. Miquel had yet to meet a woman in California that was not cute. "I moved from Miami." He admitted. "It's nice to see I am not the only new kid on the block."

He sat down across from her. His arms over his knees and the ball off to the side, "Reading for school or pleasure?" He asked. Miquel was more a sports guy. He read, but not like some people. Not like his younger brother who could read all day if Miquel did not force him out of the house to play. Kids should never be couped up all day inside. it was wrong. "I am glad my ball found its way over to you. You have a reassuring smile that lets me remember I am not out of place here." he commented.

it was the truth. Being the new kid was hard and all Miquel felt was out of place. Sure California was like Miami. But Miquel did not know anyone out here. Now he did. So that made it a little better. Even if this was the only time he met her, at least he met someone. "Do you go to the local high school. I am suppose to be at Silver, but i guess it has had a bad year, so I will be graduating from Gould."

[lanapatterson]

Lana smiled, closing her book but keeping her fingers in it to keep her place. Miguel was a definite flirt, and it was something that Lana was not used to. Most people overlooked her due to her quiet and reserved personality. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, but she ignored it. "Well you have my attention right now.." She smiled, chewing slightly on her lower lip.

"Miami..col. At least the weather is similar. Not like moving from Miami to Maine or something." She ran her fingers through her silky blond hair, brushing it off of her face gently.

He asked about her reading, and Lana held up the book to show him. "It's a mix of both really. It's for an English assingment but I love the story, and I love to read as well." Reading gave her an outlet when she was not on stage, allowed her to escape the pain that was sometimes her family life. Gave her a place to run to where she did not have to remember that one of her brothers was dead and her other was in a constant state of trouble.

"I'm a junior here at Gould, though after some of the stuff that has happened here...I wasn't sure I wanted to come back." Lana answered honestly. "Were you here for the gang shootings a few weeks ago? I begged my father to transfer me at that point, it was unreal."

[Miquel Sanchez]

"If I have your attention then i am doing something right." Miquel smiled. "You have a point. I am not a huge fan of the winter. I am a beach bum so if I had to wait to go to the beach, I would be heart broken. Nothing beats a good day laying on the beach or being in the water. " Something about the vast ocean, being so big you could get lost, was some what calming. It also put things in perspective. It was like a metaphor. Miquel was all about looking for metaphors now. It actually helped him keep his mind straight.


"My younger brother would love you. He is a reader too." Miquel said. "I do enjoy the occasional book, but I spend most of my time either outside or at the youth center." Someone had to look out for those kids and Miquel figured who better then him. He grew up on the streets and you did not learn better then hearing the dangers from someone who went through it. "Whats the book called?" He had not looked at the title.

"Its nice to know someone else from Gould. I was beginning to think I was never going to meet anyone." he said giving her a sly grin. It was true. He had talked with people, but had yet to actually have a conversation with someone. "I was here for that and it was horrible. I am just glad my brother is too young for high school." Unfortunately gang violence was not new to Miquel. But it was still something he hated.