Lonely Solitude [Open]

[Jessica Pruitte]

Listening with every fiber of attention she could muster, Jessica absorbed Felipe’s words much as she absorbed the persona’s she created. His answer was… good. Great even, but then she wasn’t going to get the answer she wanted without asking the real question. It was true, that everyone had struggles. That everyone made choices based on those struggles. Some took the moral high ground. Others -

Not so much.

“Doors do slam a lot,” she sighed. “Sometimes you have to pry them open I guess.”

Tilting her own head back to stare at the stars, then pulling it forward again to watch the foam of the waves as it danced along.

“What do I think.” It wasn’t a question so much as a repetition to buy her time. It was nice to have someone to talk to, even if they were talking about fairly heavy stuff.

“Honestly I see lies. I see people who go about their lives telling themselves one thing and doing another. Fooling themselves into a mediocre existence, and then wondering why nothing went the way they really planned it in the end. I see regrets and pain.”

Each of their answers spoke volumes about the individual. Each a sort of projection of who they were. Felipe, to Jessica, was someone who didn’t belong in this world. He was too nice. Where as she didn’t belong either. She was too hard. Too cold. Too - a lot of things - to really belong.

Shaking off the weight, Jess made a third rash choice.

“But never mind that. I’m just being… blah I guess,” forcing a grin she nudged the boy with her shoulder, a far too familiar act for someone she’d just met, but Jessica had to alleviate the mood somehow. As confused as she was, as hurt by her own series of actions, she HAD to change the ambiance she’d created.

[felipe]

"Blah?" Felipe laughed and nudged her back. "Not a word I have yet learned but will remember it well from now on if I want to describe myself. "But you have to also know that life IS hard... even fopr those who have it the easiest - and if lies are needed to help get through a day then I see nothing wrong with it. As long as they aren't made solely to hurt another person... If it helps a person deal with their day then what is the harm?" He'd been guilty of that himself before... Not often and certainly nothing malicious. He'd lied, for instance, the other day and told his mom he'd broken the vase than Ana Izabel had dropped. A lie... but he felt it had been necessary. The lecture afterwards had been less than wanted but Ana's smile of gratitude had made up for it all.

"Sooo... Jessica... enough of heavy conversation, eh? Tell me something about this place..." he urged. "All I know is this small area and that Shane - Ana and me, we met her earlier - will give us a guided tour at some time. Have you lived here for long? Which of the two schools do you attend? I hope its Silver as I would like very much to see a friuendly face there tomorrow."

His thoughts still lingered on her comment about lies and regret, though. Had she been speaking in general terms? Or about herself... That could explain the sadness in her eyes. Felipe couldn't help but feel curious... and the desire to help her - if he could - was starting to build. He knew that their acquaintance was far too short for him to ask that question but hopefully... in time...

[Jessica Pruitte]

So lies were okay then? So long as they didn’t hurt someone else. Well, Jess searched her thoughts and found that she hadn’t hurt anyone but her parents truly. The money she would other wise be collecting from the government for her “dead parents” was cycled through and sent right back into their system. Otherwise everything she got came straight from her father’s account. Well, perhaps not ‘straight’ from his account. It was filtered through other things and found it’s way to one of her aliases. It was perhaps, a bit more than she would otherwise be getting, but she felt it was owed her just the same.

But no. She had hurt other people. Stolen, lied, and conned her way into situations and out of them again. But it was all for survival! In a sense.

Pulling her thoughts forcefully away from that topic, Jess tilted her head. He’d met Shane? That girl was… interesting, though Jess had never bothered to talk to her much before. Truth be told, Shane scared Jess a bit. She was something else. Something that Jess couldn’t quite face head on. But she was definitely interesting to watch from a distance.

“I do go to Silver, I’m a junior there. But we won’t be hitting that school tomorrow. We’re merging with Gould for a little while. I swear sometimes it feels like Silver’s cursed. We’ve had soooo many things happen to it in just this past year alone.”

Giving pause to think about what she could tell Felipe about California, something he didn’t already know or could glean from tourist books.

“Umm. There’s a ton of stuff to do here,” she answered at last, lamely. “There’s the pier, the movies, bowling is always good for a laugh I have a high score of 72.” probably one of the worst scores out there, but it just wasn’t her sport, “But mini golf… I’ll kick anyone’s butt in mini golf, man.” Okay, not really, but she’d talk a good game!

"The surfing's good when it's not freezing like it is tonight, and there's always people watching."

[felipe]

"So no school tomorrow?" He smiled. "The gods are favouring me, it seems! No school AND I have met with you." Felipe grinned. "I must have done something right to be presented with such good fortune!" The shame of it was he'd looked for his proper school and hadn't a clue where the other one was located. Still, it shouldn't be hard to find out on google.com.br.

"I am useless at bowling," he admitted with a wry shrug. "Your score of 72 far betters mine. But the movies... that's always good. I have yet to see the pier other than froma distance. It looks... interesting. We don't have stuff like that really back in Brazil. The carnivals are very different. "Not sure I have heard of mini golf. I'm guessing its a smaller version of normal golf? No," he quickly added, "... I think I've seen something like it on a television programme. A film, I think. Its golf but with some odd holes and curving obstacles... Is that it? I would love to try it... Maybe you can teach me to play?

"As for surfing. I used to do that back home. São Sebastião is just north of São Paolo and a great beach for surfing. Even better is a small island called Ilhabela, just a little further north. Its name means 'Beautifukl Island' and I swear its been dropped down into the sea from paradise. It was a place often attacked by pirates in the 18th century. They left the place riddled with legends that there are still treasures hidden over the island. Strong winds make this place awesome for a sailing and even better for surfing but if that's not what you like you can always dive for shipwrecks in the bay." He looked at Jessica. "I think you'd like it there as you seem to me to be engulfed in mystery too!"

Felipe looked at her intently for a few seconds longer. "Ok, so you've told me you like mini golf and suck at bowling. What else do you personally like doing at the weekend?"

[Jessica Pruitte]

“Er no, actually. Silver’s had so many problems this year that the school board’s been shifting us over to the Gould classes whenever something goes wrong. We always end up having to share lockers and the lunch hours are really crowded, but it’s,” and here she took on mock tones of seriousness, “imperative that we get our education.”

Listening again as Felipe chattered on about the options she’d presented him, Jessica felt her lips curve into a smile. A real conversation with someone. A NICE conversation with someone where she didn’t feel like hitting them or ripping their heads off.

“That’s mini golf all right,” she interjected at his revelation. He was so fun to talk to, energetic and lively in a way that Jess wished she could be. Maybe if she started acting like… no that would just be another lie. But it would hurt no one. And maybe if she started acting that way she’d begin to believe it. Though the next day was going to be difficult. The last time she’d stepped foot into the halls of Gould she’d ended up in a fight and was subsequently suspended.

That wouldn’t happen this time. She hoped. She’d just avoid the “pranksters”. And Judd. God she hated them. The pranksters for burning down her house and shaking her world so completely up, and Judd for… just being Judd.

“Mostly I do nothing. I’ll go to the beach when the weather is warm enough and surf. There’s just something about it that makes me feel that much better about the world and life in general. Or I’ll chill at a star bucks and suck down caramel macchiatos. Every now and then I’ll go for a walk, but really you’ll find me at the hou- my apartment with my cat and a book.”

She had to admit that the idea of running away to Ilhabela was a grand notion. The mystery, the myth, the adventure of it was so romanticized in her mind that the notion of anything going wrong was completely crowded out.

“Eventually they’ll finish rebuilding the house then I can move back into it.” If she wanted to by then.

[felipe]

"Ah yes... the beach. I completely agree with you. It's... paraíso na terra... Paradise right here on Earth." He pursed his lips in thought, still unable to shake the loneliness he was feeling in his companion. Every reply was in the singular...'I'll go to the beach'... 'I'll chill at Starbucks' and more. Never a 'we'... Didn't she have anyone to share her time with? That was a concept Felipe found hard to believe as Jessica seemed an entertaining and interesting girl. "I'd like to share a macchiato with you one day," he offered. If there was a mildly tentative edge to his words it was perhaps acceptable. After all, some people preferred their own company and intrusion was the last thing he intended.

"But your house... what happened to it? Are your parents redecorating? But no, you said it's being rebuilt so you are having some extra rooms made? That's tough for you, having to live in your apartment until then."

"Jessica," he continued. "Would you mind if we met up at school? I am going to be well out of my depth and would really appreciate you showing me what do to and where to go..." He threw her an uneven grin. "I think seeing a friendly face would make it that much easier for me."

[Jessica Pruitte]

He’d like to share a macchiato with me… the words echoed in Jessica’s mind for what felt like an age, but in reality was only a few seconds. Even after their morose talk, he wanted to hang out with her? Ah, but he’d only met two people, herself and Shane, insofar. It was only a matter of time before he figured out she really wasn’t the sort of company someone wanted to hang around. Too much mystery, too much work, and then of course: she pushed people away.

“That would be fun,” Jess heard herself saying as though she were having an out-of-body experience. But then the question about her house snapped her back into reality with a clarity that was almost painful.

“Er- no,” once more she hesitated before continuing. “My parents aren’t around,” let him make of that what he would, she was loathed to tell him what she’d told so many others, but neither did she want to admit what she’d done. “The house burned down not too long ago. I’m lucky I was out surfing and my cat got through an open window.” Broken windows were open weren’t they? Sure why not.

Another moment passed and another question came. This one, Jessica was happy to jump at. “Yeah! I’ll be happy to, getting used to one school only to have to bounce back to the other once all this crap is cleared up is hard enough without a friend.” Woops, had that last word actually popped out? Feigning the chill, Jessica ducked her head down and pulled the shared blanket over her face for a few seconds. Mentally berating herself for letting her guards down so very much. What the hell was getting into her? The weather? The beach, the way the moon made the foam of the waves glitter like some sort of rare jewl?

Oh hell no. Jessica was NOT going to turn into some sort of blubbering romantic.

But she wanted a friend… and Felipe had appeared at just the right moment.

[felipe]

"Thank you," was all he said in response. Felipe knew he was feeling very out of his depth... and pretty much alone in his new surroundings. He couldn't shake the feeling that Jessica felt a similar way. Not necessarily for the same reasons but that didn't honestly matter. The end result remained.

"Sooo, what's it called?"

He grinned at the bemused look cast his way.

"Your cat. Sounds like it's already used at least one of its nine lives in escaping the fire! It must be called 'Lucky'... am I right?" he said on a short laugh. "I will have to introduce you to Rufio one day. He's my dog. Well, not mine exactly but the family pet. I seem to end up being the one to walk him. That said, Rufio more often than not walks me! He's a bit on the big side. Do you like dogs?" She had a cat and that sometimes indicated a dislike for canines... and vice versa. For himself he didn't mind cats at all.

Before she had time to answer any of his questions Felipe spoke again. "You're really cold," he pointed out. "How about I we go and grab a hot drink from the cafe down the beach a bit? My treat! We can celebrate our new friendship... and our last day of freedom before school!"

[Jessica Pruitte]

“Huh?” Jess asked, then realized she was clutching the blanket again. “Oh. Yeah. I guess I am.” His invitation to treat her to hot cocoa wasn’t one she’d expected. She hadn’t conned him, hadn’t tricked him, hadn’t used any of her usual tricks and yet there it was. If it were possible for her to become any more confused about the whole situation and her own reactions to it… Jess was just positive her head was going to cave in.

“You sure?” About the friendship? About treating me? When he returned her query with a look she got to her feet and grinned. “Alright then!” A few minutes later found them at the very café, folded up blanket in a spare chair and a mug of hot chocolate in her hands.

“Ouch,” Jessica grinned answering the question Felipe had asked before he ran off on a tangent about Cocoa. “She’s got a squashed face, makes her look like she’s run into one too many walls, so ‘ouch’ seemed like an appropriate name to me.” It was obvious, if clever, if anyone were to ask Jess’ opinion. “I’d love to meet Rufio sometime… so long as he doesn’t try to eat Ouch. You can bring him over if you like.”

Okay, what the fark? What was she doing! It was her inner sanctum. Her abode. The place she used to hide from the world. It was NOT a place she invited people into, and yet.. She just had. Who was this girl who’d replaced the cautious Jessica Pruitte. Invasion of the body snatchers? Something like that.

“Friends,” she said instead, raising her mug of cocoa.

[felipe]

Felipe grinned and lifted his mug to touch it against hers. "Friends indeed, Jessica," he replied. He took a sip before speaking again. "Rufio is all fur and bark. Trust me. He's big but completely harmless. Ok, he's harmless until someone threatens a person he deems to be in his family but as for cats?" Felipe laughed softly. "No, he wouldn't hurt yours... particularly as she alread has this squashed face!"

He dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "Do you have a number? If not I can still put your address in here. If I write it down on paper I will either lose it or Rufio will think its something he can eat. A large dog but one whose brain isn't in keeping with his size." Felipe adored the mutt, though. Had his mother heard him refer to their pedigree Fila Brasileiro as a mutt she wouldn't have been all that amused. "If we can find each other at school tomorrow perhaps we can eat lunch together... I'd reall like that. And while we eat we can sort out a good time for me to bring Rufio over to meet... Ouch." He laughed as he said the cat's name as it was a bit peculiar but he had a feeling there was little normal about Jessica Pruitte... and probably one of the reasons he liked her.

"I think we should celebrate our new friendship," he continued, half turning in his seat to look back at the counter. "What's it to be? Chocolate fudge cake or... actually I'm not sure what that even is," he finished, pointing towards an elaborate concoction. "You choose... and for me too because I don't really know what half of those cakes are!"

They settled back with their cocoa and cake, Felipe feeling very content and relaxed. He'd made a good friend in Jessica - he could sense that - and a person could never have enough of those... right?

(wrapped? maybe? I'm easy ;P)