Lying In The Sun: Connor tag any

[Connor Pearce]

Lying back on the grass, arms folded underneath his head, just outside the front entrance of Gould High School, Connor enjoyed the moment of relative peace before having to head into class. He knew what day it was, if he had somehow remained oblivious to nearly every store advertising Valentine’s Day specials, it would be glaringly obvious to him now, having passed at least half a dozen couples on his way through the car park, each bearing far too many red roses. They could at least try something original, he thought. Though, the clichés did have their own appeal. He made sure to avoid wearing anything close to red in colour himself, making do with jeans and a green, ‘Kiss Me, I’m Irish’ shirt he actually thought was kind of funny. It was nice to wear a just a t-shirt, taking advantage of the warm day.

Being single himself, he had no real reason to bother with the special day, though he had half a mind to check in on Julia. He knew well about her own boy troubles of late, and thought maybe he could help cheer her up. Toying with the idea in his mind about calling her, or maybe dropping by Silver at lunch, he quickly noticed someone standing nearby, casting their shadow over him. Raising his head slightly up, he squinted in the sun, trying to make out who it was. “Hey.” he drawled in his soft accent, figuring that was a greeting that would pass with both a friend and complete stranger alike.

[Izzy Chen]

[ Character: Izzy Chen]

Izzy loved the holidays. Especially this one. It was so romantic. Sure she had no boyfriend, but it did not matter. She still enjoyed it. Her father always sent flowers and candy all the way from Korea. It was nice. She was especially excited because of this whole Eden/Jett thing. It was funny. She loved it. Jett needed a taste of his own medicine. Finally maybe he would realize just how much some people do not like being messed with. She highly doubted it.

Izzy opted for a cute red top that said "Kiss me I am cute." She thought it was adorable. She also wore simple jeans and black boots. What Izzy did not like is that at the last minute the stupid editor of the paper asked her to do a Valentine's Day special of her advice column. Which sucked because it meant she had to redo the whole thing.

Izzy walked to the school when she spotted Connor. A nother guy from the paper. Good she could complain to him and talk to him. She was starved for conversation and it was Connor. He was a semi friend. Izzy smiled and walked over, "Great minds. Both our shirts say Kiss me." She smiled as she looked down at him. "Hey, how's your day so far?"

[Connor Pearce]

“Yeah, but we’ll have to watch it today. Someone just might.” Connor laughed, brightening as he recognised the voice. He patted the ground next to him, waiting for Izzie to sit while he sat up himself. Smiling, he eyed off the usually quiet girl. From what he had seen of her so far, he quite liked her. And she always seemed to work hard on her columns for the paper, which he liked. Some people slacked off, and there were few things that irked him more than that. He supposed he was like his mother in the way. Izzie seemed a bit different to a lot of the other girls around, like Julia. He supposed that’s why they appealed to him. On the strictly just friends basis, of course. He hadn’t spent too much with her outside that paper, he thought maybe he should change that. He reckoned she would get along well with Julia, and even Sunar. He had to catch up with his newish friend sometime soon as well, Connor tended to let himself get distracted too easily.

“Not too bad so far, expect things might change though.” Connor grinned, holding up slightly the camera around his neck. “They want me to take some photos of all these happy couples, for the paper, or yearbook or something, I don’t know. Could have asked, but that would have kept me back longer, and risk being given something else to do.” Letting the camera dropped, he rolled his neck slightly, lying on the ground didn’t seem like such a great idea now. He was getting old way before his time. “They got you doing anything to mark this special day?”

[Izzy Chen]

Izzie took the seat next to Connor and put her bag down. She like Connor. He was a good friend. He seemed to enjoy the quiet life like she did and he also seemed to share her hatred of being given extra things to do. Besides Izzie did not have too many friends. So she took what she got. Which so far turned out to be some very good friends.

Izzie liked her advice column and she was happy to do other work, but not when the editor felt the need to give it to her the day before or the day of a deadline. That was just cruel. "God, I hope no one tries. I am fully prepared to slap. Then again why did I wear this shirt..." She said with a smile and laughing.

She crossed her legs to sit Indian style and eyed the camera, "Sounds like fun. Me, I get to go around and gather quotes from the happy couples. Quotes about love and hat their romantic plans are. Then I get to rewrite my advice column to give strictly love advice. Oh yeah what fun." Izzie did not mind giving love advice, but she did not like excluding people who needed other help. "I see our editor loves us." She said in a sarcastic tone.

Izzie sighed and shook her head, "Hey I have an idea. How about we help each other out. While you snap the pictures I could ask for the quotes. Beast running around alone to do it all."

[Connor Pearce]

Connor had to admit, the sight of some guy kissing Izzie and getting a slap across the face for it would be worth seeing. “Come on, admit it. You’re hoping a guy will come up and kiss you.” he teased softly. “I know I am. Well, maybe not, but I won’t resort to slapping. Go ahead though, that is something I would like to see.”

A whole column of love advice, yet another reason he was glad he was a photographer, not a writer. He had no idea even how you would start something like that, and was very relieved it wasn’t him who had to do it. He did feel bad for Izzie though, sounded like a lot of work in only a small amount of time.

He was glad as well he didn’t have to hear all those sickly quotes, until she brought up her idea. It was smart, and it would help them both out, not to mention help ease her ‘suffering’. Though, he really didn’t want to talk to all the real happy couples. He supposed he could always just hide behind his camera. “Sure, count me in. Well, wanna get started now then? With any luck, we might get enough in before class, so we don’t have to worry about it during the rest of the day.”

[Izzy Chen]

"Okay maybe I am hoping just a little, but still....depending on the guy. He just might get slapped." Izzy laughed, "Well maybe your wish will come true. You will get a guy to kiss you and then you can see me slap someone. Now that would be a good picture to get." Izzy thought it would be a wicked idea for the paper.

it was a lot of work and the suggestion of working together would help a ton. His idea was even better, "I like that. Lets go. If we do get done then all I have to do is my column and I am set. That can be done during lunch. Thankfully love is in the air because thats all people wrote in about anyway." She told Connor.

"Come on, lets go find some love sick puppies. We can make fun of them behind their backs." It was not Izzy's style but it would be funny. She would not really follow through. She was not that mean. "I am kidding. But who knows maybe not all the couples will be all lovey dovey. There are more people in this school then that. I just say stay away from Jetts friends. They are all like that." Sure Izzy did love the cute romantic stuff, but sometimes it was annoying.

[Connor Pearce]

He was more than happy to go along with Izzie now, would make their work quicker after all, but he decided to stop short at offering his help on the column. A hindrance it would be, most likely. Plus, when it came to giving advice, he tended to be a bit too...honest at times. Not everyone appreciated that, sometimes when someone asked for advice, they wanted the ‘advice’ to agree with their own thoughts. And Connor couldn’t be tactful that way, someone wanted to know what he thought, then they would know exactly what he thought.

He laughed brightly at the mention of Jett’s friends, more than happy to take her word for it and avoid them. He hadn’t had much to do with her brother. He seemed nice enough, but Connor hadn’t had much of a chance, or a reason, to just hang out with the guy. He was a jock, and sure Connor did track and field, but a runner didn’t really hang out in the same circles as a footballer. In Gould anyway. “Yeah, there’ll be heaps of other happy couples, I’m sure. Passed a few earlier, but they all seemed a bit too...lovey dovey too. And sure you’re kidding.” he teased, winking in Izzie’s direction.

Hopping quickly to his feet, brushing any loose bits of grass off his jeans, Connor held his hand out to her. “Let’s get this show on the road. The sooner the better, eh?”

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy took Connors offered hand and stood up. She brushed off her butt and her pant legs. "I am kidding. I am way to sweet for that." She smiled and laughed, "But don't tell anyone I have a mean bone in my body." She smiled and nodded, "Yes lets go get some quotes and some pictures." she smiled, "The things we do for the newspaper."

Izzy did not really mind rewriting her column. The one good thing about Valentine's day was most people already wrote in for love advice. So it would not take long for her to swap some things out in her column. The one good thing about loving what she did. She just did not want to do it. It sucked. Maybe had she been given a few days, but the editor was an idiot.

"You think we could ask people to fake happy." She said, "Just kidding." Izzy knew that would be wrong, but she enjoyed joking around nonetheless. "So what are your plans for this evening? Doing something Ant valentine's day?" She did not really have any plans, but she did plan to call Eden later and maybe Ben. She had a feeling maybe JEtt had plans. Which did not surprise or bother her. "I love the sentiment of Valentine's day, but sometimes it is way too much."

[Connor Pearce]

“Nah, that’s a good idea.” Connor laughed, walking with Izzy towards the school buildings. “Reckon we could get finished a lot sooner if we do that. And it would be funny. Plus, our chance to one-up the ‘boss’. I can do the convincing if you like, I’ll even track down someone willing to take you up on your offer.” he teased her lightly, motioning to her shirt. Now that was something he would make sure to get on film. It wouldn’t be hard, he thought, she was pretty, and though he had no chance of being interested in her romantically, her being of the wrong sex to start with, he was sure there had to be some guys who thought differently. Though, he thought the same in the case of Julia, and she seemed to have more than a few relationship troubles of her own. Made Connor glad that, for the time being at least, he was single.

“No, not doing anything. No date, so to speak. I know, you’re surprised huh?” he joked. He was glad in a way, but, he wouldn’t say no to a Valentine either. “Was thinking about hanging out with my friend Julia, if she’s free. She’s pretty cool, and by cool I mean massively nerdy, but she’s fun. You would like her. She is Silver, but can’t hold that against her.” he smiled, with a shrug. “I can see what you mean, sometimes things go overboard with the cheesiness.” he decided. “What about you? Have a date planned?”

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy thought a moment. She had meant it as a joke, but the more she thought about it. The more she liked the idea. What a way to mess with the editor. He would be pissed if he found out the truth. Which Izzy would love. April fools was coming early this year, "Deal lets do it." She smiled and looked at her shirt, "And let me be on of the fake happy couples......" She laughed, "Now that sounds fun too. What about you...you have to be involved too." She smiled. They could both fake happy just to stick it to the editor. She loved the idea. See Izzy had a bad side. Even if her bad side consisted of taking pictures and quotes from fake couples.

"But I have to hold the whole Silver thing against her. She is the enemy." Izzy smiled, "Just kissing. I would like to meet her. If she is as cool as you say. Why not. I could always bring Eden along. I have been told I should broaden my horizon of friends. Why not." Izzy liked the idea. She did not care if this Julia girl was from Silver. "Me...no plans. No date. Which I admit kind of makes me feel a little less pressured. Valentine's day is one of the worst holidays to have a date if you ask me."