Trying (open tag)

[Sloane Taylor]

Waking up for school had always been Sloane's most hated chore. The nuisance of getting up from her comfortable bed only to walk into the shower to get herself under cold water and then freeze as she tried to get into a semi-decent outfit for the day, hoping that no one would notice that she was wearing something she might have had on a couple of weeks back...it was mental torture.

Having breakfast with the family wasn't so bad. Everyone had the same habit of not talking and passing the newspaper around while they consume their individual preferred breakfasts for the day. Occasionally someone would mutter something note worthy from the newspaper and then everyone will go their separate ways. Sloane usually hitched a ride from one of her brothers if it was a school day.

School itself wasn't so bad either. There were people she liked seeing and there were those she wished she could skip over. And today was no exception. It had been three days since she talked to Nolan or even saw him and somehow that loss was multiplied by the fact that she hadn't seen Bree either. The talk with Tyler yesterday was not exactly the highlight of her day. It made her think and she wasn't keen on doing so. She liked that she never had to answer to anyone but herself.

Bree's party and Magdalena's apparent brushoff was still playing in her mind and she wondered why that was. She was Sloane Taylor after all. No one brushed her off and expect to just be left unharmed. Sloane was, for all intents and purposes, a right lady. She wasn't snide and most of her backhanded comments were subtle and hidden. She never looked down on people, in fact she was practically indifferent to everyone, except maybe Bree. And Nolan. Where was he anyway?

Indifference was not necessarily a bad thing. She had never been obligated to be nice to anyone in her life. She respected people who deserved the respect and although she didn't expect it in return, she supposed she knew that most people who did respect her did it because she deserved it.

She wasn't sure why she had such conflicting thoughts just because a person who was by no means the same level in the school hierarchy had completely ignored her. Somehow it all boiled down to Nolan. Ever since he showed her a decimal of decency that was so rare in her life, she's been feeling as though it was normal that every feeling and emotion should be magnified and analysed and broken down so she could act accordingly. Before meeting Nolan, she had never had to think before she reacted to something.

Shaking her head mentally, she concentrated on opening the locker she shared with another girl. Sloane's own books were not there and she frowned slightly before shrugging. Maybe she didn't even put the books there in the first place. She banged the door shut and whirled around.

A group of football jocks had created a semi circle around a little bespectacled Freshman who was picking up his books. One of the jocks had a foot on a yellow file that obviously belonged to the Freshman. She sighed before stepping up to the jocks.

"Beat it, birdbrains." She said almost authoritatively. The jocks collectively looked surprised and the one with the file under his Chuck Taylors stepped back, also in utter surprise. They weren't expecting Sloane to stand up for anyone let alone a Freshman. The aforementioned Freshman looked up gratefully, pushing his glasses up his nose before grabbing the file and clumsily staggering up.

"Get to class, Dexter." She stepped aside so the Freshman could walk off and she looked back at the bulky jocks with a glare. "You're shaming your stereotypes, boys." She shook her head before starting to walk off to her first class, ignoring the feeling at the pit of her stomach.

She wondered if this was what the Grinch felt when his heart started beating.

[Jayson Michaels]

Jay had to get back at the bastard. Now he looked like a total nut in front of his sister. She would never listen, so he had to be careful. He had to find out something. According to Trixie DJ was not the kind of guy to lie. So Jay needed to find out a truth, that DJ would not be able to deny. The question was, what was it. Jay had to think. He would get that bastard back for what he did. Jay knew just the person to talk to. The beautiful Sloane. Besides Jay enjoyed flirting with Sloane. She was hot.

Jay went to school early looking for the woman in question. He needed someone to talk to. Maybe get her to use her seduction skills, if DJ had no secret, but no one was that good of a guy. No one. Jay would prove it and things would be back. DJ would regret the day he walked into his sisters life and actually thought he could date her. DJ was stupid.

Jay walked the halls. He stepped over the lowly freshmen and messed with a few chicks. He might as well have some fun while he looked around. Jay loved his life, except for one part. That monster. Finally Jay heard a familiar voice. He turned around and smiled. "And just how does one shame their stereotype." Jay smirked as he walked over to Sloane. "How are you this lovely morning?" He asked with a smile. "I was looking for you. I need your help beautiful."

[Sloane Taylor]

Hearing a familiar voice, Sloane whirled around and a full smirk was displayed on her freshly scrubbed face. Jayson Michaels was probably the last person she thought would talk to her this morning but then again, their ongoing flirtation was something she welcomed. Especially now. Jay was somewhat like Tyler, only he probably had more heart than the football jock. And his attempts at seducing her were amusing and quite charming.

"Oh Jay, you should know. You're the epitome of your own cliche. Bad boy who sleeps around but always covers for his little sister?" Sloane tilted her head slightly and gave Jay a once over. The boy was good-looking and Sloane loved to appreciate beauty. Especially when it came with a six pack and endless legs with a face of an angel. Mmm mm.

Sliding her arms across her chest, she shifted her weight on to one leg. "You've been looking for me, really?" she raised an immaculately shaped eyebrow. "Anything in particular I can help you with?" She paused for a moment before closing the gap between them.

"But I have class so could we reschedule this?" She asked, her hands itching to touch those hard abs under the shirt. Her eyes glazed over for a bit before she looked up with a lazy smile. "You know how teachers can be with those sticks up their asses. I'd be gone from here if I get another tardy and whatever will you do without me." She grinned before lightly patting his chest. "Meet me at the entrance at lunch. Toodles." She waved to Jay with her fingers before turning around to get to her class.