Post by sheraton on Mar 15, 2008 12:01:45 GMT -6
This is a story I started about me and my friends. it's currently eight chapters typed, eleven writen. When my girlfriend first broke up with me, I thought about just ditching the idea, but I couldn't help but pick it up again later, and now it occupied most of my thought. It hurts to write it sometimes, but I think my experience is enough to keep it in check. This isn't simply a love story though, or a tribute to my friends. Its plot goes much, much deeper then that.
Chapter 1: Drama King
A peaceful sky.
Picture-painted clouds moved placidly in whimsical shapes. Ashe, feeling his summer clothes and long, messy, brown hair dance in the wind, lay holding the back of his head with his hands. As he stared at the free shapes, the silence seemed to create a barrier, echoing thoughts only he could hear. The summer was almost over, and he was enjoying his last taste of solitude before the hectic school year started. Tough before he had been home schooled by his foster father/ headmaster, now he would be attending the private school he already called home.
From outside his barrier, he sensed, rather than heard, graceful feet on the turf. It was a sound that tip-toed into his deep silence and echoed in his mind. As he sat up, the top of the inorganic dorms and school buildings peeked menacingly over the edge of the cliff he sat on. Turning around, he saw a girl sitting beneath a nearby tree. Splotches of light filtering down through the leaves gave her otherwise nondescript dress a sort of grandeur. She was endowed with ghost-white hair, and skin to match, it seemed from a distance. Oceanic-blue optics traced with a pencil across a pad resting on her lap. She stopped for a moment, and watched quietly the sea of blue through a fragmented window above, and nibbled on the end of a weathered pencil. She looked to him, in that moment, as some goddess embraced by the light of the heavens.
After a moment of watching, he realized he was staring at her; and listening to the soft tune that escaped her lips as she drew. He’d never seen anyone or anything like her before...and for some reason, it engendered a swelling in his lower stomach, one usually associated with infatuation. He blushed suddenly, and attempted to steal his eyes away from her. But it was too late, for she had already noticed his staring.
She blinked at him, as if she had no idea he’d been sitting there, then she set her pad and pencil down and pranced lithely over to where he sat. He was standing by the time she got there. Her smile of greeting was so innocent it warmed him. He gave a weak, bewildered wave in response, and smile clumsily.
Before he knew it she was staring into his eyes with infinitely gorgeous water droplets. The pools were filled with such mature innocence it confused him. When she was closer to him, he saw her skin was a pale shade of pink. “You’re name’s Ashe, right?” her soft voice drifted around him for a moment before she continued “the boy the Headmaster took in, right? After your parents died?” her curious voice continued.
The high voice, coming from a person who was physically a couple inches taller than himself, engrossed him. He nodded, memorized.
She smiled again.
“Nice to meet you Ashe!” she exclaimed excitedly, “my name’s Elizabeth Martyr, Elie for short.” she extended a delicate hand to her new acquaintance. And he took it.
“Nice to meet you, too.” There was a glimmer in her eye that made him wonder; a shimmering magnet that pulled his gaze from more pleasurable features. His words fumbled “are you...new here?” He managed, averting his gaze.
“Yep!” she replied simply. Suddenly her smile flipped upside down. “You’ve got that look...” she sounded disappointed. “The look they always give me. Am I that peculiar?”
Ashe nodded absently.
“Oooooooh!” the girl spun around so suddenly that Ashe stumbled backward. “why is it that everyone I meet thinks I’m strange...?” she began stomping off as if angry. “Oh, at this rate I’ll never get a boy friend! ....or a husband....oh no! I’ll grow old alone...” her voice trailed off as she ranted to herself.
Ashe watched her walk away. He wanted to say ‘wait...it’s not that....’ but his mouth only formed mute sentences. Wow... he thought to himself, that was strange...
The sound of sliding leather binding against the desk distracted Ashe from his foster-father’s eyes. “I think you’ll be great, Ashe, after all, I was the one who taught you...” he laughed. “I know you’ll grow into a promising young man one day...” the headmaster laughed again as he tried to mimic an old man. “Sorry, sorry, I know this is a big day for you, but I can’t be serious. It’s so great that you’re moving out! They grow up so fast! I picked your room mate specially, so be sure to thank me later.
Ashe laughed with the 23-year old man who was supposed to be his father. “Sure thing. Co-ed 15, right? I’ll see you later. Maybe I’ll call.” Ashe left the headmaster’s quarters behind as he headed towards the dormitories. The campus grounds seemed so much larger now that he’d actually have to navigate them on a regular basis. This, Ashe thought, as he sauntered briskly across the courtyard. Before him loomed the obelisk-sized dorm rooms where he’d spend the next five years of his life.
There were many residents in the courtyard presently. Some looked at him with contempt, others with pity. But all made the short walk a long one. As Ashe passed the brass fountain in the center of the courtyard, his foot struck the foot of another, causing him to lurch forward. He caught himself before falling, but his books were scattered on the ground. It was evident he’d been tripped. “Oh! I’m terribly sorry.” a smug voice came from behind him. Ashe turned an apathetic gaze. Identifying the aggressor as third year, Jeffery Angle. He was the #1 jock and all-around jack-ass. He had straggly blonde hair, combed back smoothly, and an impressively adorned letter jacket. It had everything but the academic letter.
Ashe bent down to pick up his books cautiously. He didn’t know what Jeff’s beef with him was, but he might try to fight; in which case Ashe didn’t want to leave an opening. “It’s alright.” he replied steadily. “I wouldn’t expect a star sports player to have any control over his feet.” his small jab seemed to hit its mark.
Jeffery’s foot came down hard on the book Ashe was reaching for. “Wanna try that one again?” his face was livid, as if Ashe had just insulted his mother.
“I would appreciate it if you got your foot off my test book.” Ashe replied, watching the foot eagerly. He attempted to pull the book free, but to no avail.
“Oh, you know how unpredictable my feet can be. “Jeff’s smug voice issued his foot from the book upwards to his face, in a star soccer kick that would have sent the ball flying. But Ashe saw it coming and pulled back enough to offset the desired momentum, and curtail most of the damage. The foot hit him in the forehead, as opposed to the nose. It was still enough to send him reeling backwards, however. He tumbled backward expertly into a crouch.
“That was uncalled for, Jeff.” he said, genially, rising to his feet.
“That’s a matter of opinion, Ashe.”
At this point the crowd was growing around them, compelling both to continue. “You....*******. What’s you’re problem with me?” Ashe was beginning to lose his cool as a direct result of the crowd stimulating his adrenaline.
“Well, of course, you’re the Head master’s little- “his sentence was interrupted by Ashes foot in his face, sending him backwards.
“What does that have to do with anything!!?” he asked, as Jeff’s friends began helping him up.
“Why you...” Jeff’s anger was evident on his face. “I’ll kill you!!” he hopped up and ran towards Ashe. He was predictable enough for Ashe to dodge his assaults, but it was still tiring. Ashe lured him over to the fountain, and then jumped out of the way at the last second, causing Jeff to tumble forward into the water. The splash scattered droplets over the crowd and combatants alike.
“You’re all washed up.” Ashe mused, picking up his books. “See you around.” Ashe smiled under his mask of contentment. This school year might just be more interesting than he thought.
Chapter 1: Drama King
A peaceful sky.
Picture-painted clouds moved placidly in whimsical shapes. Ashe, feeling his summer clothes and long, messy, brown hair dance in the wind, lay holding the back of his head with his hands. As he stared at the free shapes, the silence seemed to create a barrier, echoing thoughts only he could hear. The summer was almost over, and he was enjoying his last taste of solitude before the hectic school year started. Tough before he had been home schooled by his foster father/ headmaster, now he would be attending the private school he already called home.
From outside his barrier, he sensed, rather than heard, graceful feet on the turf. It was a sound that tip-toed into his deep silence and echoed in his mind. As he sat up, the top of the inorganic dorms and school buildings peeked menacingly over the edge of the cliff he sat on. Turning around, he saw a girl sitting beneath a nearby tree. Splotches of light filtering down through the leaves gave her otherwise nondescript dress a sort of grandeur. She was endowed with ghost-white hair, and skin to match, it seemed from a distance. Oceanic-blue optics traced with a pencil across a pad resting on her lap. She stopped for a moment, and watched quietly the sea of blue through a fragmented window above, and nibbled on the end of a weathered pencil. She looked to him, in that moment, as some goddess embraced by the light of the heavens.
After a moment of watching, he realized he was staring at her; and listening to the soft tune that escaped her lips as she drew. He’d never seen anyone or anything like her before...and for some reason, it engendered a swelling in his lower stomach, one usually associated with infatuation. He blushed suddenly, and attempted to steal his eyes away from her. But it was too late, for she had already noticed his staring.
She blinked at him, as if she had no idea he’d been sitting there, then she set her pad and pencil down and pranced lithely over to where he sat. He was standing by the time she got there. Her smile of greeting was so innocent it warmed him. He gave a weak, bewildered wave in response, and smile clumsily.
Before he knew it she was staring into his eyes with infinitely gorgeous water droplets. The pools were filled with such mature innocence it confused him. When she was closer to him, he saw her skin was a pale shade of pink. “You’re name’s Ashe, right?” her soft voice drifted around him for a moment before she continued “the boy the Headmaster took in, right? After your parents died?” her curious voice continued.
The high voice, coming from a person who was physically a couple inches taller than himself, engrossed him. He nodded, memorized.
She smiled again.
“Nice to meet you Ashe!” she exclaimed excitedly, “my name’s Elizabeth Martyr, Elie for short.” she extended a delicate hand to her new acquaintance. And he took it.
“Nice to meet you, too.” There was a glimmer in her eye that made him wonder; a shimmering magnet that pulled his gaze from more pleasurable features. His words fumbled “are you...new here?” He managed, averting his gaze.
“Yep!” she replied simply. Suddenly her smile flipped upside down. “You’ve got that look...” she sounded disappointed. “The look they always give me. Am I that peculiar?”
Ashe nodded absently.
“Oooooooh!” the girl spun around so suddenly that Ashe stumbled backward. “why is it that everyone I meet thinks I’m strange...?” she began stomping off as if angry. “Oh, at this rate I’ll never get a boy friend! ....or a husband....oh no! I’ll grow old alone...” her voice trailed off as she ranted to herself.
Ashe watched her walk away. He wanted to say ‘wait...it’s not that....’ but his mouth only formed mute sentences. Wow... he thought to himself, that was strange...
The sound of sliding leather binding against the desk distracted Ashe from his foster-father’s eyes. “I think you’ll be great, Ashe, after all, I was the one who taught you...” he laughed. “I know you’ll grow into a promising young man one day...” the headmaster laughed again as he tried to mimic an old man. “Sorry, sorry, I know this is a big day for you, but I can’t be serious. It’s so great that you’re moving out! They grow up so fast! I picked your room mate specially, so be sure to thank me later.
Ashe laughed with the 23-year old man who was supposed to be his father. “Sure thing. Co-ed 15, right? I’ll see you later. Maybe I’ll call.” Ashe left the headmaster’s quarters behind as he headed towards the dormitories. The campus grounds seemed so much larger now that he’d actually have to navigate them on a regular basis. This, Ashe thought, as he sauntered briskly across the courtyard. Before him loomed the obelisk-sized dorm rooms where he’d spend the next five years of his life.
There were many residents in the courtyard presently. Some looked at him with contempt, others with pity. But all made the short walk a long one. As Ashe passed the brass fountain in the center of the courtyard, his foot struck the foot of another, causing him to lurch forward. He caught himself before falling, but his books were scattered on the ground. It was evident he’d been tripped. “Oh! I’m terribly sorry.” a smug voice came from behind him. Ashe turned an apathetic gaze. Identifying the aggressor as third year, Jeffery Angle. He was the #1 jock and all-around jack-ass. He had straggly blonde hair, combed back smoothly, and an impressively adorned letter jacket. It had everything but the academic letter.
Ashe bent down to pick up his books cautiously. He didn’t know what Jeff’s beef with him was, but he might try to fight; in which case Ashe didn’t want to leave an opening. “It’s alright.” he replied steadily. “I wouldn’t expect a star sports player to have any control over his feet.” his small jab seemed to hit its mark.
Jeffery’s foot came down hard on the book Ashe was reaching for. “Wanna try that one again?” his face was livid, as if Ashe had just insulted his mother.
“I would appreciate it if you got your foot off my test book.” Ashe replied, watching the foot eagerly. He attempted to pull the book free, but to no avail.
“Oh, you know how unpredictable my feet can be. “Jeff’s smug voice issued his foot from the book upwards to his face, in a star soccer kick that would have sent the ball flying. But Ashe saw it coming and pulled back enough to offset the desired momentum, and curtail most of the damage. The foot hit him in the forehead, as opposed to the nose. It was still enough to send him reeling backwards, however. He tumbled backward expertly into a crouch.
“That was uncalled for, Jeff.” he said, genially, rising to his feet.
“That’s a matter of opinion, Ashe.”
At this point the crowd was growing around them, compelling both to continue. “You....*******. What’s you’re problem with me?” Ashe was beginning to lose his cool as a direct result of the crowd stimulating his adrenaline.
“Well, of course, you’re the Head master’s little- “his sentence was interrupted by Ashes foot in his face, sending him backwards.
“What does that have to do with anything!!?” he asked, as Jeff’s friends began helping him up.
“Why you...” Jeff’s anger was evident on his face. “I’ll kill you!!” he hopped up and ran towards Ashe. He was predictable enough for Ashe to dodge his assaults, but it was still tiring. Ashe lured him over to the fountain, and then jumped out of the way at the last second, causing Jeff to tumble forward into the water. The splash scattered droplets over the crowd and combatants alike.
“You’re all washed up.” Ashe mused, picking up his books. “See you around.” Ashe smiled under his mask of contentment. This school year might just be more interesting than he thought.
