Idle Hands (tags Si)

[Sebastian Flambert]

To be perfectly honest, he wasn't expecting such an explosive welcome and was caught completely off guard when the very hyper Fallon practically leapt upon him, dragging him up the stairs, and threw him into her room.. With the heavy contents of the brown paper bag still in his arms, it was a wonder he didn't fall face first onto the stairway.

Privately, he thanked the gods for his good fortune..

"I-It's n-nice to see you too, Fallon.." the boy quipped, taken back by her unusually warm welcome.

The door to her bedroom clicked shut, completely shutting out the rest of the household from the two teens. Spotting a mischievous glint in Fallon's eyes, Sebastian grinned broadly, allowing the large brown paper sack to fall freely onto the soft plush carpet of her room.

Without a moment's hesitation, the boy flung his now unburdened arms around his sweetheart's waist, pulling the slender girl into a tight embrace.

"Happy 'Seuss Day' to you too, Fallon.." he spoke softly, planting a firm kiss on the girl's lips.

To his amusement, part of the grease-based makeup that had formed the basis of his "cat whiskers" smudged comically against the girl's cheek, staining Fallon face with a clearly noticable black residue.

"Today.." continued Sebastian, this time with a reverently hushed tone. "Happens to be the birthday of one of the defining figures of our time.. A great man who's pen name has brought about untold amounts of joy from the hearts of children everywhere around the world.."

He couldn't help but giggle in childish delight, his smudged cat's whiskers bouncing comically up and down his face.

"Dr. Seuss!" he exclaimed, spinning Fallon around in a dancer's pirouette. With almost unnatural grace, the boy allowed Fallon to come to a slow stop with her back to his chest, wrapping his own arms firmly around her waist in an adorably cute manner.

"Of course.. There's quite a bit of preparation to be done before Seuss Day can be properly celebrated.. but I'm sure with your help, everything will exceed expectations.."

Sebastian grinned happily, pulling the girl into another kiss...

[Sidra Cotton]

It was always rewarding when her sister's mood turned around from absolutely nothing can go right, to everything being perfect. Fallon ran out of the living room to shriek over Sebastian who'd apparently shown up to spend the day. At least he was doing okay, though Sidra wondered idly if he'd had nightmares about that Rafael guy too. He had been more visibly shaken after the run-in.

Thad had started texting even though phone privileges had been taken away, and her flat and spiral steel bones had been scattered across the floor with both sister and brother having flung themselves around her neck. If it wasn't them, she would have had to kill who ever dared hug her. Sidra cotton was NOT a huggy person.

Period.

The thundering of overly excited feet could be heard on the stairs as Fallon and Sebastian ran up and the slam of a door.

A door?

Oooh no. Nu-uh. Si pushed herself up and pointed at Thad. "Don't do anything to this corset. Do NOT touch it, or you won't get ANY presents for the next five years." Her hand splayed out to show all five fingers as emphasis. "FIVE," she repeated.

Grabbing her sister's pill bottle on the way up the stairs, Si didn't bother to knock, just opened it up and stopped dead. He had his hands on her sister. Her sister had her hands on him. They were in a lip-lock.

Clearing her throat, Sidra leaned against the door frame, arms crossed over her small, corseted chest with eyebrows raised towards her hairline. "Didn't anyone ever tell you grease paint smears?" Ice-edged tone, but not entirely unfriendly since it was plain that Fallon had wanted, and reciprocated the kiss. Still, Si wasn't sure about it. They hadn't known each other very long, after all, and already they were intimate?

Not that she hadn't wanted to be intimate with that Conan guy. God did she want to be intimate with that Conan guy.

"Fal," the elder showed the pill bottle. "And you know mom's rule about boys and doors." Girls and doors for Thad, but that didn't apply at the moment.

[Fallon Cotton]

Fallon could not contain her excitment. She kissed Sebastian back and smiled as she rubed her nose against his. "I like the hat." Fallon squealed as Sebatian talked about Dr. Seuss. "Green, eggs and ham...that was my favorite story. My dad use to read it to me every night." Fallon explained as Sebastian pulled her into a dance.

She did not care about the black residue. This was nice. Beng held, when the dance was over. Fallon settled with her back against Sebastian's chest and looked up at him. She gave him a soft smile, "Thank you for coming over. " Fallon spoke in a soft tone as she leaned up slightly for the kiss.

Just then, as if Si knew, which she did, vampire always had special powers like that. Fallon looked startled at her sister, cheeks turning red. She blinked a few times when Si held up the pill bottle. It turned into one of those annoying faires from her dream. All the sudden the words becem so loud, she could barely think right. "You failed him..." echoed through out he room.

Fallon took a few steps back. She looked at Sebastian, and then at Si. Confusion written all over her face as she sturggled to speak. "I know the rules. You dont have to tell me....." Fallon said irritation back in her voice, after being happy just moments ago. "I did not do anything wrong. and you are not mom, so what are you doing telling me about the rules." Fallon was irritated.

Then she covered her ears for a moment and took a deep breath. "Just stop okay...just be quiet all of you..." There was only two figures in the room and they were being silent. It had been about three days and no meds...thats assuming she took her meds prior to those three days, to be honest, Fal was not sure the last time she did take her meds.

"Leave me alone...." Fallon said stomping her foot down. "Go away." Fallon was not talking to Sebastian or Si, but to the faries and the words. She was not hearing things, but her mind was affect by her dream, and her moods. She was irritated, and when something was bothering ehr, she turned that thing into faires, hat taunted her with words.

Fallon shook her head and took another deep breath. Her legs were shaking. All the sudden a smile came to her face, "COOOKIES!!! I WANT COOKIES." With that Fallon happily ran out of the room past Si, happy as a clam to go get cookies.

[Thad Cotton]

Thad bounced excitedly on the floor when Fallon offered to let him help. "Yay! See, Si, Fal is cool, she trusts me! I ain't gon' mess nothin' up!" He pointed out, sticking his tongue out at his eldest sister before scrambling to his feet as best he could. He began to follow Fallon out the door, but was distracted by more buzzing from his cellphone; Roxy must really miss him! That made him feel good, knowing that his best friend and crush was just as miserable as he was when he was grounded.

He flipped open his cell, grinning at the message from Roxy. He was a little disappointed that she wasn't coming to get him herself, but she'd said she had a plan, so he had to trust her. "3 got it" He sent back, leaning against the sofa. Almost as soon as he'd pressed send another text arrived in his inbox, this one from Ez. "yes 2 both counts. ill were black 2" He typed, ignoring proper spelling as something beneath him.

"Excuse me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that phone privileges have been taken away." A voice spoke behind the boy, causing him to jump, heart hammering. He hadn't noticed his mother come up behind him.

"But....but...." He stammered, trying to think of a really good excuse for breaking this rule...and failing.

Deborah Cotton glared sternly at her youngest child. "Hand it over." She demanded, holding out her hand expectantly until the recalcitrant boy reluctantly passed over his treasured communication device. "Hmmmmm." She mused, not bothering to leave before reading the texts he'd been sending and receiving. "Thinking of breaking out, are we? I think I'm going to have to have a chat with Roxy's parents. And you, back to your room! I don't want to see a toe past that door for the rest of the evening!"

Thad sighed and folded his arms across his chest stubbornly. "You're so meaaaaaaaan!!" He whined, "I'm so bored! Everyone's gon' be there! It's not fair!! I wanna -- cookies?" He asked as Fallon bounced past energetically, distracted momentarily from his rebellion.

[Sebastian Flambert]

Sebastian couldn't help but feel slightly hurt by Fallon's sudden outburst, but nevertheless pushed those feelings aside as he rose to follow the irstwhile girl down the stairs. Snatching the brown paper bag he had left on the floor, he gave the eldest Cotton a sheepish smile before bolting down the stairs in pursuit.

From the looks of things, it had been some time since Fallon had last taken her medication..

"H-Hey.." called Sebastian, nearly tripping over the stairs in his haste to get to the girl. "F-Fallon.."

After much difficulty, the boy managed to catch the girl at the bottom of the steps, and flung a free arm around her shoulder in an attempt to steady himself.

"F-Fal.."

Smiling lightly, the boy allowed the base of his chin to rest lopsidely on the girl's left shoulder, his mouth half an inch away from her ear.

"It's Seuss Day.." he whispered, hoping to calm her down a bit. "But.. There's some things we need to do first.."

In one fluid motion, he revealed the contents of his brown paper bag for all to see, elicitating a gasp of surprise from Deborah Cotton.

"I picked it all up earlier this morning at the market!" quipped Sebastian, beaming with pride.

Three lengthy baguettes baked to a golden-brown perfection and still a bit warm from the market were laid to rest atop the Cotton's dinner table, accompanying a wealth of other ingredients. Fresh pasta, ripe tomatoes, a block of Parmigiano-Reggiano, eggs of a pure-white color, and a tiny bottle of olive oil accompanied a wide assortment of spices on the kitchen table, and almost seemed to radiate a sense of quality throughout the entire room.



"Nice, isn't it?"

A large bag of strawberries completed the scene, plopped almost unceremoniously by Sebastian next to the two French Baguettes.

"I was kinda hoping you'd help me out with making the customary 'Seuss-Day' Lunch!" he explained, bouncing slightly in excitement.

"Of course.." he added, whispering softly into the girl's ear. "It's a lot easier to cook when.. erm.. One's mind... is..."

"Calm?"

"After all, we wouldn't want to burn anything.. No?"

[Fallon Cotton]

Fal heard her brothers words, "Come on Thad. I will save some oreos just for you." She smiled at her brother as she started to hop down the stairs. Fallon was humming to herself when all the sudden she felt am arm wrap around her shoulders, bringing her hopping to a halt as her body was brought back against Sebastian's. She closed her eyes for a moment as he spoke and nuzzled her face against his as she smirked, "You are so sweet." With a quick kiss to his cheek, she checked the bag, "Oh.....yay...breakfast."

She looked at the entire spread then started clapping. "Oh this is going to be so much fun....Hey THAD...come help with breakfast." Fallon yelled as she smiled widely at the food and jumping up and down at the idea of making breakfast. Fallon listened as all the sudden Sebastian's voice was in her ear.

For a moment she was not sure he was really there. She could hear the voice and his breath against her ear. It tickled and sent slight shivers down her tiny frame, when she leaned back slightly she felt his body against her back and let out a breath of relief since he was real. Although even if he were not, just hearing his voice brought comfort.

She closed her eyes and gave his cheek another quick kiss, after all her mother was just looming there. Fallon nodded taking the comfort and a breath, "But I am calm.." Fallon complained and then looked at Sebastian, "Okay maybe I might be a tad hyper, but its only because I am really happy to see you, and this is great and I appreciate it." She told him. She was calm. Of course she was calm. She was very calm.

Fallon took a few steps back so she could call up the stairs for her sister. This way she would not yell in Sebastian's ear. "SI come help!!!" Fallon called then walked back over to Sebastian. She placed her hands delicately on his shoulders and smiled, "You are the best and I promise to never fail you." She smirked and kissed him. With no explanation she turned back to the food. "Now where do we start." She said perky. She could barely contain her excitement.

Her body was jittery and jumpy and she could barely contain it. It was not easy. She had been having this high for a few days and if. She was truly in a bipolar fit she would calm down for a few days then go into a depression mood, and back and forth would continue. Until she took her meds which was the farthest from her mind at the moment. Right now Fallon was focused on the food before her and the guy next to her. A guy she would not fail...ever. No matter what Fal would always be there for him.

[Sebastian Flambert]

Sebastian couldn't help but cock his head slightly in pleasant confusion, unsure of what Fallon exactly meant when she talked about "not failing him". Within a matter of moments, he nevertheless pushed all of these thoughts out of his head as he focused onto the task of converting these prime ingredients into a meal worthy of Dr. Seuss himself.

"Well..." spoke Sebastian, blushing slightly from the Fallon's audacious display of affection. "I would suppose the first step would be... To wash one's hands..."

--------------------------
Fifteen minutes later

Within a matter of minutes, the savory aroma of sauteing onions, peppers, and tomatoes filled the air of the tiny kitchen, brought to life by a single sixteen-year-old boy clad in a flower-print apron. The spaghetti, yanked fresh from the market an hour earlier, now boiled happily in an adjacent pot with a visibly excited Fallon Cotton stirring it to perfection.

"Cooking is a lot like singing.." spoke Sebastian, taking care to correct Thad in the proper process of sauteing onions. "It's more than throwing a handful of ingredients together to make something for the stomach..."

Sebastian smiled broadly as the onions and peppers gradually turned into a golden brown color, radiating a sense of almost childlike innocence in the process.

"It's an art form.. A method of expressing your feelings and emotions in something beautiful.."

In one smooth motion, he allowed the eight ounce package of beef in his hand to crumble slowly onto the frying pan, adding a variety of spices in with the mixture of onion, pepper, and beef. Within seconds it made a noticable difference, amplying the wonderful scents several times over.

It was an explosion of smell, almost like magic, brought to life by a single boy with a lopsided hat and grease paint whiskers.

"I..." mumbled Sebastian, suddenly unsure of what to say, "I saw Dr. Van Maren yesterday..."

[Fallon Cotton]

Fallon smirked and went to wash her hands. She helped and followed Sebastian's directions. "Is it sad, I am glad you know how to cook." She lightly bumped his body with hers. Fallon bounced around the kitchen. She did this and she did that, moving fast, and attempting to listen at the same time.

She jumped from topic to topic throughout the whole process, "Oh we should hang out tomorrow after school. Hey can you believe the rain, its unbelievable. It should be pretty outside. Oh we should all sing a song." It went on like this. Her mind jumping.

When Sebastian talked about singing, Fallon broke out into song:

Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has ev'rything?

Okay so it was not Dr. Seuss, but still it was a song. "And this is why I do not try out for American Idol. Singing is done in the kitchen." She said with a bright smile as she started to dance around. Fallon could not stay still. She had to move and dance and say something. Sitting still was not happening. She was antsy.

"Oh happy Seuss day, happy Seuss day, Happy Seuss day." She inhaled the smell and loved it. "Oh this is lovely. Thank you so much." She said as she hugged Sebastian tightly."This is great. It smells so nice. And looks yummy. Just in time for lunch."

Wrapped