Post by silent.lullaby on Sept 29, 2010 19:58:55 GMT -5
//We Run This Town//Chapter 032// Tremble
Kara dressed for school, a light flowing white dress with little pink flowers dotting it. It was sweet, innocent. Kara shuddered and grabbed her knit white sweater and put it on. She grabbed her silver watch and placed it on her wrist before checking the time. 7:40. She knew that Lexie would be catching the cross town bus from their mom’s now in order to get to school on time. Kara, since staying at their fathers, she could walk, and still had an extra half hour to get ready.
Exiting her room she passed Lexie’s and then the bathroom they shared, and then their father’s room. The door open she peeked inside, he wasn’t home. It was quite the rarity for Detective Wayne Reid to be home. She found herself staring at the picture frame on his night stand and she strode over and picked it up.
The picture was of Lexie and herself, they were probably six or seven in it, wearing matching outfits- pink shirts with jean overalls. Why they’d been dressed that way was far beyond her, still Lexie was smiling, genuinely smiling with her bouquet of flowers- or weeds rather, but at seven if it was colourful and grew from the ground it was a flower. The younger version of herself was nearly identical, her hair was slightly shorter- she’d gotten bubblegum in her hair and had to have it cut out- and her bouquet had more may flowers than her sisters, other than that they had posed the same and looked identical. Behind them, a little blurred and out of focus was their mother Selma Reid... well Selma Green, now that she’d gone back to her maiden name after the divorce.
Kara gently put the picture back down where she found it and left the room. She grabbed her bag and an apple before heading out the door, she locked the house up and then started down the driveway. In her head she went over her homework assignments, assuring herself they were all finished, and that they were in her pack.
Winter was nipping at her and it would soon be time to put her dresses away for the winter and pull out her collection of cardigans, and knits. Goose bumps ran up her calves and thighs, she rubbed the knit fabric on her arms trying to keep warm as another gust of icy wind hit her, her blonde hair whipping back before bobbing back into place just like her hair spray bottle had insisted it would.
Cars flew by, the school was located in a residential zone, it kept away from most of the busy bustle of the city. Still people liked to drive like idiots, which is why when Kara heard a car slow down beside her it sent shivers down her spine- this time it wasn’t because of the cold.
****
Gavin would have preferred not to have gone to school, but his father had insisted, and so had Serena DeLuca, she’d given him a clear bill of health, sure he had to keep his ripped up wrists wrapped up, but he should have no problem taking notes or participating in gym class. She had also insisted that for the next week he let her fuss over the wounds. He’d agreed to let her see them each night before he went to bed, she always cleaned them- even though he’d just showered- and used some antibacterial stuff that made his skin burn and make her tell him to stop being a sissy. She’d then put on a soothing ointment and wrap it back up.
He’d spent the weekend at the hospital. Lilianna’s condition hadn’t gotten any better, but it hadn’t gotten worse either. He ran a hand through his hair, stress tightening his muscles to a dull ache. He’d seen Maximo watching his sister through the glass, and then tend to his younger brother, it seemed to age the eldest Lombardi sibling. He’d watch Antonio comfort Contessa, Blaire tried to lighten the mood for the uptight Gemma, and Adam and Preston watching for anything that might disturb the families. Watching them, a unit, a family, them being Mafia was the last thing on his mind. They were family, closer than any other he’d ever seen.
Gavin couldn’t help but think of his own family, of his father, now a dirty cop on hired by Antonio Lombardi the New York Mafia King. His mother Allison was always on him about being away from home all the time, never being there for his own family, and she didn’t have any idea about the mafia deal. They were always fighting anymore. He wondered vaguely if his parents were heading for a divorce. He shuddered remembering the bitter brawl of the Reid family. The twins were always tired- kept up all night from the fighting. The emotional havoc it played on them- especially Kara. He rubbed his temples before adjusting his backpack as he walked down the hallway towards his locker.
Standing there was Lexie. Most couldn’t tell the twins apart, Gavin could, even though Lexie wasn’t in her usual rocker chick style, instead in faded out blue jeans and a black long sleeved shirt, he still knew it was her. Kara wouldn’t lean against a locker with one foot against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. It wasn’t Kara. It was though, typical Lexie body language that screamed ‘I’m tougher than you, so don’t mess with me.’ He especially noticed that saying when she turned towards him, her eyes deep and dark. They changed, softened slightly when she seen him, and he felt his back tighten uncomfortably. Lexie was a vicious one, and she was use to getting what she wanted, and Gavin had a feeling she wanted something from him.
“Hey Gav,” was all she said when he stopped beside her and spun the dial on his lock.
“Hey yourself,” he responded pulling the lock open and opening the door.
She waited silently as he put his things away and grabbed his English binder and pencil case. When he looked at her she was smiling, it wasn’t a smile like her sisters, it wasn’t genuine and frankly he knew that when Lexie was smiling, something had already happened or was about to. She looked him up and down, “don’t you look nice for school today.”
He looked down at himself, a pair of ripped up jeans, grey t-shirt, old and faded out Abercrombie zip up hoodie, and a pair of broken in Nike runners didn’t count as dressing up. His eyebrows drew close as he stared at her suspiciously, “thanks?”
She smiled, “no prob.”
They walked down the hall in tandem, it was a strange phenomenon walking with her, the students parted like the Red Sea. She was close enough to smell her spicy perfume, her arm brushed against his and he knew something was definitely off. She was dating Darren, sure they’d been friends since pretty much the beginning of his memory, and maybe that was why he knew something was so wrong. He knew how she acted with someone when she was interested with them. She was doing it to him now, but had she really been looking him up and down she would have noticed the bandages that were wrapped around his thumb to secure it better.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty classroom and shut the door. “What is going on?”
She smirked, and he couldn’t help but think of a snake. “What do you mean Gav?” She asked before running her hand down his chest, “we’re just walking to class.”
He grabbed her arm and put it back at her side, “you’re dating Darren.”
She laughed, “you’re always the last to know, no, I’m not. We aren’t together anymore.”
“And what? You want me to be your rebound?”
Her face contorted into anger, “really? You think so little of me?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Gavin began but she looked at him like one might look at a cockroach before she stepped out of the room and slammed the door. Gavin sighed, when he thought life couldn’t get more difficult it just had to prove him wrong.
***
Lexie waited for Gavin at his locker, she’d underdone everything about herself and left her leather jacket at home. She wasn’t Gavin’s type, but she did know what he went for. Simple, easy to care for girls, sweet, innocent, like that Kaper girl... who was actually his girlfriend, but really? What did she have that Lexie didn’t? Kaper was a plain Jane, Lexie figured herself to be hotter, smarter, and she knew Gavin.
She watched other students go by and she glared at them hatefully. High school; what teachers tell you will be the best time of your life, only it’s absolutely miserable, your fellow peers, people you grew up with are all in their cliques and hate anyone outside of it. Teachers never know what they are talking about.
She looked over and seen him walking her way, she tried to soften her features, look a little happier, the controlment of features felt strange. Smiling... strange. “Hey Gav,” was all she said when he stopped beside her and spun the dial on his lock.
“Hey yourself,” he responded pulling the lock open and opening the door.
Lexie then waited silently as he put his things away and grabbed his red binder and blue pencil case. She kept a smile on her face, trying to look calm, cool, and flirty. She looked him up and down, “don’t you look nice for school today.”
She watched him looked down at himself, a pair of ripped up jeans, grey t-shirt, old and faded out Abercrombie zip up hoodie, and a pair of broken in Nike runners. His eyebrows drew close as he stared at her suspiciously, “thanks?”
Lexie smiled, “no prob.”
They walked down the hall together, their peers moved out of their way.
Lexie breathed in a steadying breath and moved closer to him. She could smell his crisp clean smell, she brushed her arm against his inconspicuously she could feel his heat, and her fingertips touched the skin of his hand. Out of no where he grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty classroom and shut the door. “What is going on?”
She smirked. “What do you mean Gav?” Lexie knew she had to play everything right. She ran her hand down his chest, “we’re just walking to class.”
He grabbed her arm and put it back at her side, “you’re dating Darren.”
Lexie let out a bitter laugh, “you’re always the last to know, no, I’m not. We aren’t together anymore.”
“And what? You want me to be your rebound?”
Lexie was angered by his statement. Rebound? No, he was her revenge. Was that really better or worse? She felt her body shake with angry tremors, “really? You think so little of me?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Gavin began and Lexie glared before she stepped out of the room and slammed the door. He was right to call her on it, she knew that. But one thing he hadn’t mentioned during her flirtation was the fact that he was still with Kaper. He didn’t mention it, not once. Lexie felt a little smirk on her face as she took the stairs down and out of the school, he didn’t mention his girlfriend, and that might be something she could use. She decided to skip class and walked off school property. Cracking her neck she thought about her next move.
***
Ivan was a little surprised when Gemma came into the overly warm computer lab during the lunch hour. She walked right up to him and stared at the guy on the computer next to him after a moment she cleared her throat, “going to let a lady sit?” She asked crossing her arms over her chest. The guy was nerdy, nerdier than Ivan even he grabbed his books logged off and exited the room. “I just wanted him to move over a seat.” She shrugged and sat down on the tall computer stool.
He watched her, and she didn’t say anything. Finally he cleared his throat and spoke nervously, “you weren’t in Tech or Algebra.”
“That’s because I skipped Tech and Algebra,” she admitted. She looked around the vacated computer lab, “is it always so dead in here?”
Ivan shrugged, “there are usually a few more, but I think they got shoved into lockers... they are short.” Gemma gave a pained laugh and Ivan stared at her puzzled, “are you okay?” She shook her head and tears ran down the angel’s face. Ivan sat uncomfortably not really knowing what to do. “Please... please don’t cry.” He started to reach out for her, but pulled his hand back again. Girls like Gemma simply didn’t go with guys like Ivan, not even in friendship. He wanted to ask what she was doing there, but thought it to be insensitive.
“Skip with me?” She asked, “I don’t have anyone else...”
Ivan had perfect attendance.
He’d never once even felt the slightest temptation to skip.
He liked school.
But Gemma, with tears in her stunning eyes got off the stool and held her hand out to him, he took it because he simply had no choice. No man would. She brought his arm over her shoulders and he knew she took comfort in him. He wasn’t sure if she lead him outside, or if he lead her, they sure got enough stares along the way. Once outside she let out a trembling sigh and he lead her off school property.
Kara dressed for school, a light flowing white dress with little pink flowers dotting it. It was sweet, innocent. Kara shuddered and grabbed her knit white sweater and put it on. She grabbed her silver watch and placed it on her wrist before checking the time. 7:40. She knew that Lexie would be catching the cross town bus from their mom’s now in order to get to school on time. Kara, since staying at their fathers, she could walk, and still had an extra half hour to get ready.
Exiting her room she passed Lexie’s and then the bathroom they shared, and then their father’s room. The door open she peeked inside, he wasn’t home. It was quite the rarity for Detective Wayne Reid to be home. She found herself staring at the picture frame on his night stand and she strode over and picked it up.
The picture was of Lexie and herself, they were probably six or seven in it, wearing matching outfits- pink shirts with jean overalls. Why they’d been dressed that way was far beyond her, still Lexie was smiling, genuinely smiling with her bouquet of flowers- or weeds rather, but at seven if it was colourful and grew from the ground it was a flower. The younger version of herself was nearly identical, her hair was slightly shorter- she’d gotten bubblegum in her hair and had to have it cut out- and her bouquet had more may flowers than her sisters, other than that they had posed the same and looked identical. Behind them, a little blurred and out of focus was their mother Selma Reid... well Selma Green, now that she’d gone back to her maiden name after the divorce.
Kara gently put the picture back down where she found it and left the room. She grabbed her bag and an apple before heading out the door, she locked the house up and then started down the driveway. In her head she went over her homework assignments, assuring herself they were all finished, and that they were in her pack.
Winter was nipping at her and it would soon be time to put her dresses away for the winter and pull out her collection of cardigans, and knits. Goose bumps ran up her calves and thighs, she rubbed the knit fabric on her arms trying to keep warm as another gust of icy wind hit her, her blonde hair whipping back before bobbing back into place just like her hair spray bottle had insisted it would.
Cars flew by, the school was located in a residential zone, it kept away from most of the busy bustle of the city. Still people liked to drive like idiots, which is why when Kara heard a car slow down beside her it sent shivers down her spine- this time it wasn’t because of the cold.
****
Gavin would have preferred not to have gone to school, but his father had insisted, and so had Serena DeLuca, she’d given him a clear bill of health, sure he had to keep his ripped up wrists wrapped up, but he should have no problem taking notes or participating in gym class. She had also insisted that for the next week he let her fuss over the wounds. He’d agreed to let her see them each night before he went to bed, she always cleaned them- even though he’d just showered- and used some antibacterial stuff that made his skin burn and make her tell him to stop being a sissy. She’d then put on a soothing ointment and wrap it back up.
He’d spent the weekend at the hospital. Lilianna’s condition hadn’t gotten any better, but it hadn’t gotten worse either. He ran a hand through his hair, stress tightening his muscles to a dull ache. He’d seen Maximo watching his sister through the glass, and then tend to his younger brother, it seemed to age the eldest Lombardi sibling. He’d watch Antonio comfort Contessa, Blaire tried to lighten the mood for the uptight Gemma, and Adam and Preston watching for anything that might disturb the families. Watching them, a unit, a family, them being Mafia was the last thing on his mind. They were family, closer than any other he’d ever seen.
Gavin couldn’t help but think of his own family, of his father, now a dirty cop on hired by Antonio Lombardi the New York Mafia King. His mother Allison was always on him about being away from home all the time, never being there for his own family, and she didn’t have any idea about the mafia deal. They were always fighting anymore. He wondered vaguely if his parents were heading for a divorce. He shuddered remembering the bitter brawl of the Reid family. The twins were always tired- kept up all night from the fighting. The emotional havoc it played on them- especially Kara. He rubbed his temples before adjusting his backpack as he walked down the hallway towards his locker.
Standing there was Lexie. Most couldn’t tell the twins apart, Gavin could, even though Lexie wasn’t in her usual rocker chick style, instead in faded out blue jeans and a black long sleeved shirt, he still knew it was her. Kara wouldn’t lean against a locker with one foot against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. It wasn’t Kara. It was though, typical Lexie body language that screamed ‘I’m tougher than you, so don’t mess with me.’ He especially noticed that saying when she turned towards him, her eyes deep and dark. They changed, softened slightly when she seen him, and he felt his back tighten uncomfortably. Lexie was a vicious one, and she was use to getting what she wanted, and Gavin had a feeling she wanted something from him.
“Hey Gav,” was all she said when he stopped beside her and spun the dial on his lock.
“Hey yourself,” he responded pulling the lock open and opening the door.
She waited silently as he put his things away and grabbed his English binder and pencil case. When he looked at her she was smiling, it wasn’t a smile like her sisters, it wasn’t genuine and frankly he knew that when Lexie was smiling, something had already happened or was about to. She looked him up and down, “don’t you look nice for school today.”
He looked down at himself, a pair of ripped up jeans, grey t-shirt, old and faded out Abercrombie zip up hoodie, and a pair of broken in Nike runners didn’t count as dressing up. His eyebrows drew close as he stared at her suspiciously, “thanks?”
She smiled, “no prob.”
They walked down the hall in tandem, it was a strange phenomenon walking with her, the students parted like the Red Sea. She was close enough to smell her spicy perfume, her arm brushed against his and he knew something was definitely off. She was dating Darren, sure they’d been friends since pretty much the beginning of his memory, and maybe that was why he knew something was so wrong. He knew how she acted with someone when she was interested with them. She was doing it to him now, but had she really been looking him up and down she would have noticed the bandages that were wrapped around his thumb to secure it better.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty classroom and shut the door. “What is going on?”
She smirked, and he couldn’t help but think of a snake. “What do you mean Gav?” She asked before running her hand down his chest, “we’re just walking to class.”
He grabbed her arm and put it back at her side, “you’re dating Darren.”
She laughed, “you’re always the last to know, no, I’m not. We aren’t together anymore.”
“And what? You want me to be your rebound?”
Her face contorted into anger, “really? You think so little of me?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Gavin began but she looked at him like one might look at a cockroach before she stepped out of the room and slammed the door. Gavin sighed, when he thought life couldn’t get more difficult it just had to prove him wrong.
***
Lexie waited for Gavin at his locker, she’d underdone everything about herself and left her leather jacket at home. She wasn’t Gavin’s type, but she did know what he went for. Simple, easy to care for girls, sweet, innocent, like that Kaper girl... who was actually his girlfriend, but really? What did she have that Lexie didn’t? Kaper was a plain Jane, Lexie figured herself to be hotter, smarter, and she knew Gavin.
She watched other students go by and she glared at them hatefully. High school; what teachers tell you will be the best time of your life, only it’s absolutely miserable, your fellow peers, people you grew up with are all in their cliques and hate anyone outside of it. Teachers never know what they are talking about.
She looked over and seen him walking her way, she tried to soften her features, look a little happier, the controlment of features felt strange. Smiling... strange. “Hey Gav,” was all she said when he stopped beside her and spun the dial on his lock.
“Hey yourself,” he responded pulling the lock open and opening the door.
Lexie then waited silently as he put his things away and grabbed his red binder and blue pencil case. She kept a smile on her face, trying to look calm, cool, and flirty. She looked him up and down, “don’t you look nice for school today.”
She watched him looked down at himself, a pair of ripped up jeans, grey t-shirt, old and faded out Abercrombie zip up hoodie, and a pair of broken in Nike runners. His eyebrows drew close as he stared at her suspiciously, “thanks?”
Lexie smiled, “no prob.”
They walked down the hall together, their peers moved out of their way.
Lexie breathed in a steadying breath and moved closer to him. She could smell his crisp clean smell, she brushed her arm against his inconspicuously she could feel his heat, and her fingertips touched the skin of his hand. Out of no where he grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty classroom and shut the door. “What is going on?”
She smirked. “What do you mean Gav?” Lexie knew she had to play everything right. She ran her hand down his chest, “we’re just walking to class.”
He grabbed her arm and put it back at her side, “you’re dating Darren.”
Lexie let out a bitter laugh, “you’re always the last to know, no, I’m not. We aren’t together anymore.”
“And what? You want me to be your rebound?”
Lexie was angered by his statement. Rebound? No, he was her revenge. Was that really better or worse? She felt her body shake with angry tremors, “really? You think so little of me?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Gavin began and Lexie glared before she stepped out of the room and slammed the door. He was right to call her on it, she knew that. But one thing he hadn’t mentioned during her flirtation was the fact that he was still with Kaper. He didn’t mention it, not once. Lexie felt a little smirk on her face as she took the stairs down and out of the school, he didn’t mention his girlfriend, and that might be something she could use. She decided to skip class and walked off school property. Cracking her neck she thought about her next move.
***
Ivan was a little surprised when Gemma came into the overly warm computer lab during the lunch hour. She walked right up to him and stared at the guy on the computer next to him after a moment she cleared her throat, “going to let a lady sit?” She asked crossing her arms over her chest. The guy was nerdy, nerdier than Ivan even he grabbed his books logged off and exited the room. “I just wanted him to move over a seat.” She shrugged and sat down on the tall computer stool.
He watched her, and she didn’t say anything. Finally he cleared his throat and spoke nervously, “you weren’t in Tech or Algebra.”
“That’s because I skipped Tech and Algebra,” she admitted. She looked around the vacated computer lab, “is it always so dead in here?”
Ivan shrugged, “there are usually a few more, but I think they got shoved into lockers... they are short.” Gemma gave a pained laugh and Ivan stared at her puzzled, “are you okay?” She shook her head and tears ran down the angel’s face. Ivan sat uncomfortably not really knowing what to do. “Please... please don’t cry.” He started to reach out for her, but pulled his hand back again. Girls like Gemma simply didn’t go with guys like Ivan, not even in friendship. He wanted to ask what she was doing there, but thought it to be insensitive.
“Skip with me?” She asked, “I don’t have anyone else...”
Ivan had perfect attendance.
He’d never once even felt the slightest temptation to skip.
He liked school.
But Gemma, with tears in her stunning eyes got off the stool and held her hand out to him, he took it because he simply had no choice. No man would. She brought his arm over her shoulders and he knew she took comfort in him. He wasn’t sure if she lead him outside, or if he lead her, they sure got enough stares along the way. Once outside she let out a trembling sigh and he lead her off school property.