Nothing in life is easy - Felipe (open tag)

[felipe]

Despite being lunch break Felipe had no desire to go to the cafeteria. That had been, after all, the scene of his own personal confrontation with the gang who had terrorised the entire school. Far too many memories lurked there and he had a feeling it would be some time before he could face that room again. Instead he'd brought some lunch with him and he took it with him to the library. He'd seen nothing of Jessica since that day and was worried about her as she hadn't replied to any of his texts and voice mail messages. He prayed she was ok and if he didn't manage to track her down today then he'd call by her home after school and make sure once and for all.

The library was deserted, most sane students taking the opportunity offered by lunch break to meet up with their friends and share both food as well as stories... but not him. Felipe only knew a handful of kids and so had yet to establish strong friendships. Friendships that would help him deal with the aftermath of those dreadful events of a week ago.

He found a remote corner and dropped down to sit. He wasn't all that sure he was allowed to eat in the library but no one was there to tell him otherwise and besides, he wasn't doing any harm. He stretched his long legs out beneath the table and rummaged in his pack for a book to read. Life went on - he knew that - but that didn't mean it was easy.

[Mal Harper]

Mal did not feel like joining the rest of the world yet. She had just seen JJ and spent a lot of her days at the hospital with Zac. So this lunch period she choose to be secluded and draw or something. She had her laptop so she could work on putting a video together. Which was always fun. The tribute video had turned out surprisingly well. Mal was working on something else now. So she decided the library would work It had enough corners so she could get lost.

Mal walked through the library. It was like foreign land. Which was kind of funny to be honest. In all her years she had never ventured into the library. Then again she would not be caught dead in a room full of books, yet here she was oddly enough. Life worked in funny ways. Mal made her way to the back. She had no idea where she was going. Its not like it was a maze, but for some reason Mal felt like she was stuck in the middle of the movie the "Labyrinth."

Finally Mal found her location and smiled. Until she saw someone sitting there. "I make it out of the maze of books to find you in the corner I want." She smiled down at the guy she did not know, "Mind if I join you?" She asked taking a seat. "Looks like we thought alike. That gives you a plus." Mal said laughing. "I guess it would help if I introduced myself. I'm Mal. Nice to meet you." She said to the guy as she offered her hand.

[felipe]

Felipe had been engrossed in his book when the library door had opened. He hadn't even heard it happen. The words before his eyes passed in a blur as he fought to let them sink in. Euclides da Cunha deserved better than this and he silently cursed himself for not giving the Brazilian author the respect he merited. After all, the book he held - Os Sertões, which translated to 'Rebellion in the Backlands' - was something of a classic. Written in 1902, Cunha's narrative told the story of a war that happened in the end of the 19th century, in Canudos, a settlement of Bahia's backland. It's depth and emotion were reknown... Unfortunately that was lost on its reader at the moment. All Felipe could envisage was the carnage of another war. One far more recent and much closer to home. One that had taken place little more than a week ago. No. Exactly a week ago as it'd started during lunch last Monday.

He lifted his eyes from the rows of letters when a voice disturbed him. He'd come here for solitude and yet that was the very last thing he honestly wanted. The newcomer was more than welcome, despite her being unknown to him. Maybe that helped?

"Please. I could do with some company," he replied. He reached up a hand towards her. "Felipe," he said. "And I offer my apologies for inhabiting your intended chair," he added with a decent enough attempt at a smile. "I wouldn't normally be hidden away like this but... I suppose the attack on the school has left me more shaken than I realised." He half stood as he spoke, manners having been taught at an early age, making it a natural response.

"So tell me, Mal... What brings you to this corner of school? Surely not a similar desire to escape reality...?"

[Mal Harper]

Mal took a seat next to Felipe, "I was kidding. I do not come to the library. As a matter of fact as I was walking throught the books I kept thinking I was in a maze. I hope I can find my way out. It reminds me of Harry Potter and the Labyrinth." Mal commented. She took out her laptop and opened it. Leaving the lap top home was like giving her parents permission to look at it and that was something Mal did not care to do. She eyed Felipe when he talked to her.

"Pleasure to meet you too." Mal said to him. "I cam here not to hide but to have some quiet. I wanted to work on a special project, and to be honest the caf is way to loud for my taste. I cannot hear the music. You know how hard it is to pick the right some for a tribute video." Mal said to Felipe. "I am making a website in commemoration of what happened and for those who lost their lives and I am making videos." Mal could go into more detail about why it was so hard. matching up images and the song. It was very hard.

"So I thought the library was a good place. Plus I have never been here, so it wa slike foreign land for me." Mal said with a smile. "Want to see what I have so far? Its not great, but it's a work in progress." Mal explained. "I think last week has everyone still shaken."

[felipe]

Felipe listened closely as she spoke, touched deeply by her gesture. "Those affected by what happened will be honoured by your work. I don't know you at all but alread I can see you are a thoughtful and profound person. "Did you lose anyone close? I was lucky in that it was my first day at school and had yet to form any friendships. That said, what I saw in the cafeteria will remain with me until my dying day. I suppose I didn't need to know the names of those who fell... Their faces will remain in my memories."

He leaned closer. "May I?" he asked, gesturing towards her laptop screen. She didn't refuse and so Felipe took that as consent and he peered at the display. "I can see how difficult it would be to find the right music. Not only the instruments but the words are just as important." He offered her a small smile. "But I get the feeling you are more than up to the task and I look forward to seeing your production. For myself I am musically challenged to the greatest degree and envy anyone who has that talent!"

"Mal... An unusual name," he stated. "Is it short for something else? I haven't come across it before but then I haven't been in the US for long either," he added with a wry laugh.

[Mal Harper]

"Most people would say i look like one of those chicks that people need to stay away from because they are constantly in a bad mood. Just because I like to wear different clothes and make up." Mal had a punk look. Her clothes typically came from Hop Topic and she wore black nail polish and dark purple, blue or black lip stick, but what was so wrong with that. Yet it gave people the wrong idea apparently. "Thank you for saying that. it means alot to me." She told him. "I just did this because I figured people needed to see something come out of what happened and perhaps this will help ease something..pain...hurt..any thing." She had no idea her real motivation. It just seemed like a good idea.

"No I did not lose any one, but a friend of mine was shot. He is still in the hospital. They say he will be there for a while." Mal said referring to Zac. She knew Brit and JJ were really torn up about it and that just made Mal feel horrible. She use to make fun of Zac. It was there thing and now...she just couldn't. Mal nodded as he asked permission to see her laptop. She turned it toward him, "But he will recover. As for the videos, its all about finding the right mixture to give off the right message. Thanks for the vote of confidence. No need to be envious. Its really easy to use the software. I can teach anything. its all about picking the right song and how you mix it." She told him. Kay maybe it was more complicated.

"Oh, um..sorry. Its short for Mallory. But everyone calls me Mal. I am not even sure how many people even know my real name to be honest." She said with a laugh, "I always got use to the nickname."

[felipe]

"Mallory." Felipe tilted his head slightly as he looked at her. "To shorten it to Mal doesn't do you justice," he added. "A name far too pretty to cut it down to just the one syllable."

He leaned back slightly in his chair. "But to teach me how to do what you are doing?" He laughed and shook his head. "I have to tell you that a computer dies as soon as I touch it. I have a... um.. da aptidão... A skill for it," he finished with a wry grin. "I am glad to hear your friend will recover and hope that happens quickly. So much sadness and loss, now is the timetomoveon...For some of us, though, that will take a lot longer."

"But as for looking different to everyone else? I don't see it as so much being different but being an individual. It would be most boring if we all looked and dressed in the same way, wouldn't it?" he asked with a slow wink. "No, your style is unique and if people avoid you solely for that reason then they are missing out on the chance to get to know you." He lifted his shoulders slightly. "That is their loss and - today at least - it is my gain."

[Mal Harper]

"Very charming." Mal said giving him a nod. "I never thought about my name like that, but it sounds nice." She said. Mal smiled. It was different. She could honestly say no guy had ever said that to her, but she was very happy with it. "I would like you to call me Mallory." She was not use to it, but he gave a good point, and what? She was a woman after all. Mal did get flattered too. She had a right to be. It meant nothing. Just a nice compliment.

"Oh I am sure you do not kill computers. You just make sure they do not work properly." Mal said with a laugh, "Trust me its very easy. Maybe not making the videos, but think of computers like women. They are temperamental and like things done there way." Mal said laughing. "See simple. Computers permanently PMS." She said hoping her forwardness was not getting to the guy. "Thank you. Zac is going to be okay. He just needs time to recover. Its not going to be an easy thing to get over."

Mal nodded, "I could not agree more. I like diversity. Dressing like this makes me feel good about my self. It gives me confidence and the ability to walk down the halls with my head held high." Mal meant it to. She was less confident when she dressed what was considered normal. Mal started to look around. She checked under book bags and her laptop and books. "I am looking to see your flaws. I mean....you are way to charming for your own good."

[felipe]

"Then I will call you by that name," he stated with a friendly smile. "But please believe me... All I need do is look at a computer and the blue screen of death appears. Heaven help me if I actually touch one! But I will do as you suggest and pretend it is a woman." He laughed and winked at her. "I can't wait to see what happens in my next IT class. Have you ever seen a man make out with a computer?" He laughed again. "I would probably be thrown out of the classroom."

"Oh I have plenty of flaws, Mallory," he replied. "I just bury them very deeply." Was he joking? Maybe... Maybe not. "Never let anyone change you, " he went on. "A free spirit should not be tamed and you have every reason to feel confident in yourself."

He knew he was coming across as flirting but he was also being sincere. Her face had lit from within when she'd laughed and he sensed that didn't happen all that often. A great shame as Mallory had brought a feeling of intensity... life... with her into the library. That same fire should surface far more often.

"When you have finished your tribute would you permit me to see it?" he asked. "I mean, before you upload it to your site."